Marlboro Approves Hire of 12 Special Officers for School Security

The Marlboro Town Council approved a resolution last week to hire 12 more special officers in order to supplement the cops in schools trial program.

The temporary program, which is at an estimated cost of $105,000 for 90 days, puts one officer in each Marlboro Township school for the duration of a school day. The move was a response to the tragic shootings in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

According to Police Chief Bruce Hall, the 12 come from surrounding towns such as Freehold and Howell, as well as some retired Marlboro officers.

"These retired officers are highly trained and possess the necessary skill sets to perform the task assigned as a Class II Special Officer in our K-8 schools," Hall said in an email to Patch.

During the security trial period, the school district and Marlboro Police Department will assess the current state of school security in the township and recommend a long term plan to the Board of Education.

If the board decides to keep officers in schools, a budget referendum may be up to the voters to decide on.

Last year, the Board of Education moved its election period to November, removing the public budget vote as allowed in state law. The public now only votes on the school budget if the budget exceeds the state mandated annual two percent increase cap.