The Signal Mountain Town Council, with new members now in place, has some figuring to do to get a school resource officer in Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
The school was without a designated officer last year and has been so far this year as well, according to principal Robin Copp.
“It’s clear to me that the sentiment coming from the school is we need this position filled,” said newly re-elected Councilman Dick Gee. “We have to respond some way or another. How that’s going to be, I’m not sure.”
The Signal Mountain Police Department formerly employed a Youth and Community Relations Officer who essentially acted as a SRO for SMMHS. At the time that dedicated position was vacated, the SMPD was also facing a high turnover rate with its patrolmen, said Gee.
So the previous council focused on building up the patrol force first, Gee said. In a recent interview with Town Manager Boyd Veal, he said the patrol positions have been filled but officers are still going through training and some are on administrative leave.