Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.O
Meeting Date: June 25, 2025
From: George Crum, Chief of Police
Title: Two-Year Law Enforcement Services Agreement Between the Palm Springs Unified School District and Cathedral City Police Department for One School Resource Officer
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve an agreement with the Palm Springs Unified School District (District) for the Police Department to provide the District with one trained police officer on a full-time basis as a School Resource Officer (SRO) for FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27, in the amount of $369,158, and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
For the past 24 years, the Cathedral City Police Department and Palm Springs Unified School District (District) have partnered together to provide a specially trained full-time police officer, commonly referred to as the School Resource Officer (SRO), to maintain an immediate police presence and response at Cathedral City High School, as well as other district sites within the city limits. As part of this partnership, the District has agreed to fund the SRO position for two years, covering the ten months that make up each respective school year, primarily including the salary and benefits of the officer assigned to the position.
DISCUSSION:
The term of this Agreement shall be effective August 1, 2025, and shall run through June 7, 2027, unless sooner termination as specified in Section 16 of the Agreement. The SRO shall have a regular work schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. five days per week. The SRO assigned to the District shall provide foot and vehicle patrols, as well as other security protection services, on school campuses. The SRO may issue citations or make arrests for crimes, write reports as directed by the District, and perform other related duties. The SRO may enforce criminal violations and perform other agreed upon duties. The SRO is authorized to take control of a crisis in accordance with the city's policies and procedures.
The School District agrees to comply with all reasonable requests of the city necessary for the performance of the SRO's duties under this Agreement. It will furnish office space for use by the SRO while performing those duties.
The city shall retain the full responsibility and authority to direct and control the activities of the SRO and supervise and discipline the SRO following city policies and collective bargaining agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the SRO shall cooperate with the District relating to any event or activity that may involve an SRO assigned to the District, including, without limitation, conferring with any student, parent, faculty, and school administrator. If a problem arises concerning the performance of duties by an SRO, the principal or his/her designee shall state such concerns in writing directed to the District's Superintendent, his or her designee, and the Police Chief. The SRO is expected to maintain radio contact with high school administration at all times. In the event the SRO finds it necessary to leave the campus, the SRO shall notify the principal (or designee) in advance of the expected absence, and the Police Watch Commander shall be notified. In such circumstances, a patrol officer shall be available for immediate response to a school emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Palm Springs Unified School District Agreement will fund the SRO position beginning August 1, 2025, through June 7, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $369,158 during the term of the contract. This funding is comprised of:
•$180,096.00 in FY 2025/2026
•$188,198.00 in FY 2026/2027
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL E: Safety
Objective: Cathedral City is safe for all who live, work, visit, and play in our community.
Action E-5 – Police Department develops pro-active methods to reach out to youth and families.
While the SRO position is not a new concept, this position directly serves the needs of youth and their families.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Palm Springs Unified School District Law Enforcement Services Agreement Contract