SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - As the school year draws to a close, the Sioux Falls police department is making changes to the school resource officer program next fall.
Chief Doug Barthel says to help with the growing number of public and private schools officers will be assigned to one of four quadrants.
Barthel says that will allow police to dedicate resources where they’re needed most. He says officers will still be assigned to specific middle and high schools, they aren't walking away from that. But he says rather than just one specific officer assigned to each school, now there's a team that can help out.
Barthel says the “I Can” program will be taught by the schools next fall, re-assigning four officers to the resource program.
It will bring the total school resource officer staff to fifteen.