Muscogee County Schools Move Closer To School Police Agency

COLUMBUS, GA: The Muscogee County School Board approved two measures on Monday evening at its normal monthly meeting that are bringing a new district police agency closer to a reality. The two measures now have identified positions that will be present in the department and what traits the board will be looking for when hiring officers to fill the upcoming positions.

During its June meeting information was revealed that the Muscogee County School District would be bringing its own police agency to life to patrol local schools. At Monday's July meeting board members approved two measures that first created the new agency that will be called the Muscogee County School District Security Agency. The resolution creating the agency was approved unanimously by board members.

A second resolution immediately followed which included the police agency training and job descriptions. Board member Cathy Williams who represents District 7 requested that board members amend the wording of one of the bullet points under the qualifications for the Chief of Police position. Williams expressed concern that the way the qualifications for the position was worded may disqualify certain individuals.

Board members voted to amend the wording of the bullet point to include the word preferred under the qualifications for the job. Board members did this to not exclude anyone seeking the position. Members of the school board voted unanimously to approve the amendment. Shortly after members of the board voted approve the resolution training and job descriptions.

The second resolutions created several positions in the new agency which will include a police chief, a captain, and several officers. Board members confirm this will be a long process to get the new agency in place, but are taking the steps to move forward with its creation. There was no word revealed in the meeting as to when the new agency hires may be in place.