Muskogee Police Department officer shortages could impact Hilldale Public Schools

Two school resource officers at Hilldale Public Schools in Muskogee could be removed because the Muskogee Police Department is dealing with an officer shortage. 

The situation came up at Monday's Muskogee City council meeting, where dozens came to voice their opinion. 

Why Hilldale Public Schools school resource officers may be pulled

Muskogee Police Chief Johnny TeeHee told the council and more than 100 people attending that the patrol is down about 15 officers.

TeeHee says he understands the connection between students and SROs, but he needs more officers on the streets. 

He says the department's patrol staff is so short, the night shift is unable to take a day off unless they call in sick. 

"When officers are pushed too far, mistakes happen. When those mistakes happen, we begin to lose trust, trust erodes within our community. The safety of both the officers and the community is put at risk," said TeeHee. 

Teehee says he's already moved two officers from the investigations division and pulled half its community resource officers onto patrol His next option is to disband its drug enforcement unit. 

Offering a comprise 

Chief TeeHee says he's looking to use one of the SROs for patrol.

If that comprise is not agreed upon, then he could replace the current officers with different officers. 

Teehee said, "Taking two of our drug unit guys, there's only two left because we're already taken some from them and then taking our last two current community resource officers."

Hillsdale Public Schools SROs

Hillsdale Public Schools has had a school resource officer at each of its two campuses for the last ten years.

Dozens of people told the Muskogee City Council Monday that those specific officers make the schools a better place. 

"The relationship they have built with students is unmatched to any other officers I have made relationships with," said Adaline Butler, Hilldale senior. 

A need for consistency and familiarity

More than two dozen people told the city council that removing the two officers from Hilldale Schools would leave a gap. 

The Hilldale public school community says the two current SROs are irreplaceable because of the relationships they've made with the students.

"This is from a fifth-grade female, she says, dear city, please keep Office Ford at Hilldale, when I was in a bad situation, he was on my side."

The Hilldale Public Schools Superintendent agrees.

He says the district has spent a lot of money on training these two specific officers and rotating other officers in wouldn't be productive.

"Dealing with a 16-year-old young man who can be volatile in a school setting is different than dealing with a 21-year-old man on the street; they're still kids, and it takes specific training and a specific skill set," said Erik Puckett, Hilldale Public Schools Superintendent. 

What's next?

The Muskogee City Council voted Monday to recommend keeping two SROs on Hilldale School campuses. Now the city manager can start negotiations with the school district, which will start next Tuesday at the earliest. 

Once negotiations are completed then the council will vote to approve the next contract.

The contract expires in July.