Police presence

It’s anticipated that a law enforcement officer affiliated with the Middlesex Borough Police Department will be stationed within each of the local public schools within a year’s time.

Municipal and school officials met recently to discuss various issues. One of the takeaways was that a Resource Officer will return to the district in September, working mainly at Middlesex High School. 

Also, Class 3 officers will be hired and trained for each of the borough’s public schools. A timetable for placement of those officers will depend on the hiring process.

Mayor Jack Mikołajczyk reported on the talks with school officials during the Borough Council’s Tuesday, May 14 meeting.

“By September, we’re going to have an officer back in the high school,” the mayor said of the resource officer.

Mikolajczyk added that Class 3 officers could be in some other schools by the end of calendar 2024. The mayor said officials are “hopeful” that one will be stationed in every school by the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.

“It’s something the town needs,” Mikolajczyk said.

A Resource Officer had been stationed in MHS until a series of retirements reduced MPD staffing levels in recent years. Two new officers were hired in late 2023, with one of the goals being the ability to again fill the Resource Officer post.

Security would be enhanced by having a Resource Officer at MHS, but Police Chief Matt Geist has said there are additional benefits in filling the post. The officer would also spend time at other borough schools speaking about topics such as drug awareness.

Along with boosting security and instructing in certain topics, resource officers help build rapport between the police and school community. 

Class 3 special officers are former full-time police officers who have retired in good standing and are younger than age 65. They are authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public or nonpublic school.

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