A Community Orientated Policing Services grant has been awarded to the City of Hollister and will partially fund a second school resource officer for the Hollister School District.
The $125,000 grant will pay some of the costs of employing one school resource officer to work along the current school resource officer, Michael Paddy, who serves the district’s eight elementary schools and two middle schools. The remaining costs of the new position will be shared by the district and the city for a period of four years.
“Now that we can add another School Resource Officer, we will be able to redouble our efforts to make our schools and our community ever-more safe, and to have highly visible law enforcement officers who are seen by our students as helpful and approachable persons, above all else,” said Superintendent Gary McIntire in an announcement from the police department.
The partnership was unanimously passed by the Hollister School District board of trustees and the Hollister City Council.
“This is yet another opportunity for our city to partner with Hollister School District for the betterment of not only the students and staff of our schools, but the whole community,” said Police Chief David Westrick, in an announcement from the police department. “Partnerships like this will be a template for improved services in our community.”
Testing is currently being held at the Hollister Police Department for the candidates interested in the position. The hired officer will also be an instructor for the Gang Resistance Education and Training program.
