TOWN OF WAPPINGER – The Town of Wappinger, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wappingers Central School District (WCSD) announced a plan to increase patrols at all elementary schools in the town to keep students and staff safe.
The collaboration of various levels of government and the school district was introduced at Wappinger Town Hall on Friday.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Wappinger Town Patrol, operated by the DCSO, will be at all district elementary schools in the town to “ensure consistency among our 11 elementary schools throughout the seven municipalities we serve,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dwight Bonk said. He also told Mid-Hudson News that “The safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priority,” while noting that the district has 15 schools spread over seven municipalities.
In announcing the initiative, long-time first responder Bill Beale who also serves as Town of Waapinger Deputy Supervisor said: “Today, the Town of Wappinger has entered into a formal partnership with the Wappingers Central School District and the Dutchess County Sheriffs Office to provide police presence in our two remaining schools, Evans Elementary School and Myers Corners Elementary School.”
The Town of Wappinger is sharing a portion of the cost for the new program with the DCSO and WCSD. Town Supervisor Richard “Dick” Thurston said the town had already increased the budget for the town patrols, so there is no new cost associated with the program. The WCSD has allocated $41,000 to the program. The remainder will come from the sheriff’s office. “The new elementary school safety and security services are part of the town’s ongoing and expanding efforts to reduce risks of the need for emergency police services,” Thurston said, adding “This is about our children and their well-being.”
Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati, whose office will implement the added safety measures, stressed that his office has always had a presence in the local schools. “Besides a child’s home, their school is the second-safest place to be,” he said. “The partnership with the Wappingers Central School District, and the Town of Wappinger to provide funding for the sheriff’s office presence at the elementary schools in the district proves that all three entities are committed to our children’s safety.”
Rob Faust, a retired police officer, father, and candidate for the county legislature, applauded the collaboration. “The new partnership between all three entities is the most comprehensive plan available to address school safety issues that schools face in the current times.” Faust told Mid-Hudson News that if elected, he would sponsor legislation to provide funding for DCSO School Resource Officers in every district that applies for the assistance. “When it comes to school safety, funding should not be the factor that keeps deputies out of the schools. We can all work together to make schools a safer place.”
