(Credit: Bucks County Sheriff's Office)
Bucks County Sheriff Fredrick A. Harran released the following statement:
"In 2023, I was approached by the Central Bucks School District with a request to assign one of my Sheriff's Deputies as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at CB West High School.
I know the important roles that a School Resource Officer can fulfill, and the impact that an SRO can have - not only on the students, teachers, and administrators within a school, but on the entirety of the community that the school serves. I advocated for and implemented School Resource Officers, D.A.R.E. Programs, a P.A.L. Program, and other school and community outreach and involvement initiatives in my more than 30 years as a police officer, and as the Director of Public Safety for the county's largest municipality, Bensalem Township.
My Deputies and I were excited at the prospect of beginning a School Resource Officer Program through the Sheriff's Office, and in 2023 I pursued the SRO request from the Central Bucks School District with various officials in county government. My efforts culminated with an agreement among the school district, the county, and the Sheriff's Office for the placement of a Deputy Sheriff as a School Resource Officer for CB West H.S. starting with the 2023-24 school year.
Sheriff's Deputy Landis was assigned as the SRO at CB West and has served continuously in that role since his appointment. Based upon all of the interactions I have had and feedback I have received since Deputy Landis' assignment to the high school, I believe that the SRO Program at CB West has been a success.
It had come to my attention that Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia announced their intention to terminate the SRO agreement with the Central Bucks School District. I was not consulted by either Commissioner Harvie or Commissioner Marseglia before their plan to cancel the SRO program.
I do not agree with their decision. I do not support their decision. They unilaterally made this decision without input from me or my Deputy.
The Public School Code requires the approval of the county in order for my office to continue to assign Deputy Landis as an SRO. Commissioner DiGirolamo has reached out to me to offer his continued support of the SRO Program, not only at CB West, but at other schools that may request an SRO as well.
My Deputies and I remain committed to providing a School Resource Officer to the students, faculty, administration, and families of the Central Bucks School District. I ask Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia to please reconsider their decision, for the safety and well-being of the youth of Bucks County and the communities in which they reside."
About the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office: Led by Sheriff Frederick A. Harran, the Bucks County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) is a vital law enforcement agency serving the over 630,000 residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Sheriff Harran, with over 38 years of law enforcement experience, directs a team of 95 professionals, including 76 sworn deputies, in providing essential services such as court security, warrant execution, civil process, Sheriff's sales, and gun permit administration.
The BCSO is committed to proactive community engagement and strong partnerships with the 39 local police departments and state/federal agencies operating within Bucks County. The office operates 24/7 to ensure public safety and uphold justice. For more information, visit bit.ly/BucksSheriff
