The Downtown Exchange Club has donated $2,400 to the Billings Police Department (BPD) for School Resource Officer (SRO) training . This job specific training is critical to keep all SROs up on current trends in social networking, bullying, gang activity, drug trafficking and usage, active shooter, suicide and any other special concerns or potential problems that public schools are seeing.  In turn, they return with the knowledge to train and educate our community, department and Youth Courts. The SROs' role in the schools is to provide guidance and support to the schools, be role models, enforce laws, provide security and educate the students, staff and the community.  Senior, West, Skyview, Central and the Career Center have SROs and two SROs are assigned to the four public middle schools. In past years, the SROs have relied heavily on donations to fund the necessary job specific training.  The City Council must approve all donations of $500 or more.   

The City Council may: 

• Approve and accept the donation from the Downtown Exchange Club of Billings.
• Deny and return the donation to the Downtown Exchange Club of Billings .
   

There is no financial impact to the general fund.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve and accept the $2,400 donation for SRO training from the Downtown Exchange Club of Billings .