by Alan McArthur
Landmark reporter

Platte City is no longer considering providing a school resource officer (SRO) to the Platte County R-3 School District.

Previously, Richard Sayles, police chief, said the city was approached by the school about the possibility of providing the SRO again at the school. Sayles said there was a grant available to pay for the salary of the employee.

The SRO would be an employee of the city and would work as an officer while not stationed at the school.

However, at the public safety subcommittee meeting last week, Sayles said he had hit a snag while filling out the paperwork for the grant.

“It doesn't look as promising as it did before,” said Sayles. “We can try to make the grant work for what we want to do.”

On Monday, Sayles said the city has abandoned the idea of continuing the grant because the SRO would not fit the qualifications of the grant.

Sayles also said that the school's current security guard had decided to stay at the school and not leave, which had prompted the issue of hiring an SRO in the first place.

Currently the school has a hired employee as a security guard to work in the high school and other schools. The employee also provides security during some school board meetings.

The employee also works as a reserve officer for the Platte City Police Department.