Approval sought for second Trinity officer
Trinity Area School District is asking a judge for permission to hire a second school police officer.
The district – which has four elementary schools, a middle school and high school – got a Washington County judge’s approval to hire Officer Richard Horner in 2014. The district’s petition, filed Thursday, said Horner will continue to work in that role and asked to hire Sean Scott, a 25-year veteran of the state police who retired in September, to help provide security at district schools.
The Public School Code allows schools, with approval from a common pleas judge, to hire police officers who have powers that include issuing summary citations or detaining individuals until a local law enforcement agency is notified and to carry a firearm in the course of their duties.
Trinity officials said in the petition the school board determined a second officer is necessary because of the district’s “size, the fact that its facilities are located on five different campuses, and the myriad security, safety and discipline issues facing” the district.
A judge hasn’t ruled on the petition.