Minutes 11-07-2019 Regular Meeting

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31 (MOUs) that limit the roles of SROs, in order to prevent abuses and criminalization of low-level crimes. He said he will continue to push for not using SROs at all, or having MOUs with the schools to address the statistics. Sheriff Blackwood said he appreciated Commissioner Dorosin’s comments, but suggested he talk with Cait Fenhagen, Criminal Justice Resource Department, about Orange County numbers. He said his office does have MOUs with the schools, which limit the authority of the officers within school, and are recognized as the most effective MOU in the State. He said the top two reasons children are arrested in North Carolina are disorderly conduct and fighting, for which his staff do not arrest unless it becomes dangerous to the life and property of another person. He said the schools handle disorderly conduct and fighting. He said the local SROs take great care to ensure that children do not leave schools with unnecessary arrest records, and he take offense that Commissioner Dorosin would accept that a study from another county could represent the work being done in Orange County. Commissioner Marcoplos said brought this topic up at a joint meeting with the school boards a few years ago, and the school boards want SROs. He said he appreciates that Orange County has a lighter arrest record and practice. He said it is great if a school is willing to pay for the SRO, and the County should allow it. Commissioner Bedford said she can see both sides. She said she there was an incident at East Chapel Hill High School, and the violent incident ruined a teacher’s life, who was an excellent teacher. She said incidents do happen. She said the impetus for having SROs started with a 7th grade middle student who committed suicide at Culbreth Middle School. She said the goal needs to be continually refocused on preventing child injury. She said Orange County has the luxury of having progressive law enforcement departments, and have done the crisis training voluntarily, and times have changed. She said there are many ways for the officers to help at the schools, and while it is sad that SROs are needed at all, if there is a school willing to take on this cost then she can support the request. Commissioner McKee said the Board can have policy and academic discussions and arguments until it’s blue in the face, but if the Board does not approve this request, and something happens at ERA, then the BOCC Board would be as responsible as the person who does the violent action. Commissioner Dorosin asked if ERA will have to sign a MOU. Sheriff Blackwood said yes, and has already agreed to do this. Chair Rich asked if this is a one-year contract, which will be revisited annually. Sheriff Blackwood said yes. Chair Rich asked if the other schools have a multiple year contract, and if MOUs are reviewed. Sheriff Blackwood said his predecessor rarely renewed them, but he saw the need and heard the argument at the state level, and will renew MOUs every year. He said times change, studies change, philosophies change, and these issues need to be addressed regularly. He said his department addresses actions with warning citations, and takes its actions within the schools very seriously. He said his department is not interested in children having unwarranted criminal records, and is confident that those involved in criminal justice would back him up. Commissioner McKee referred to the recent incident with the special needs child, and said that person needs to be punished for a long time. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price for the Board to: 1) Create a 1.0 FTE Deputy Sheriff I Position in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for Assignment to Eno River Academy; and 2) Approve Budget Amendment #2-A and the acceptance of offsetting revenue to cover the pro-rated costs of the position for November 11, 2019 through June 30, 2020.