Wrangell police will add a school resource officer (SRO) after securing a $218,000 federal grant to help pay for the new position. The grant is intended to cover 75% of the salary for three years.

The borough assembly accepted the funds at the Oct. 21 meeting and authorized the hire. The police department began advertising for the job immediately after the vote.

Police Chief Gene Meek said the officer will split time between the elementary campus and the middle/high school campus, with an office at each site.

“The officer is going to be there as a law enforcement officer, but also as a mentor,” Meek said. “They’ll be informative about any criminal activity in the area.”

He said daily contact can help students see officers as people they can trust. “A big asset is giving our youth the chance to engage with law enforcement and humanize the officers.”

Meek has previously worked in several states and said he has seen the model succeed.

“Every department I worked at before coming here had an SRO except in Center, Colorado,” he said. “I helped create that role there, and within one year we saw a big increase in engagement.”

The grant money comes from the COPS Hiring Program, a competitive grant run by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

The program helps agencies hire or rehire career law enforcement officers. Wrangell will use the award to launch the school post.

The chief said the job often attracts candidates who want to mentor young people. “Students will have daily interactions and will get advice from the officer,” he said. “It’s also been an effective recruiting tool for future officers.”

The new hire must complete basic police training and a field training program to demonstrate their aptitude. The officer will also receive at least 40 hours of specialized instruction for working with youth.

Meek said the position will build trust and open lines of communication. “This gives a voice to a part of the community that needs to be heard.”

He said the department is working with the school district on a schedule and clear roles before the officer starts. Plans include classroom safety lessons, help with emergency drills and support for school events. Meek said the SRO will not replace counselors or administrators and will follow district policies on discipline.

Hiring will include a background check and interviews with both police and school leaders. The goal is to have the officer in place as soon as training and onboarding are complete, with updates to be shared with families through the district.

“It’s amazing what can happen as a result,” Meek added. “And, let’s face it, kids can be more honest than anybody.”