There has been much discussion about the availability of the School Resource Officer (SRO) for Rohnert Park schools for the duration of the 2025/2026 school year. I'm very proud of the work done by our SRO, and I want to be clear why the SRO will be unavailable for the remainder for this school year.
Due to current staffing levels at my Public Safety Department, we are having to pull the officer leading the SRO program in order to have them perform regular citywide patrol work. It is unfortunate that this action has to be taken, but it's due to circumstances beyond my and the City's control. As Chief, I have to prioritize the safety of the entire community, and this decision to temporarily pull the SRO was made to give the Public Safety Department time to become staffed at acceptable levels. I anticipate that the process to hire and train new staff will take the remainder of this school year.
School safety is a priority for me and my department, and we will continue to work with the school district to ensure student safety. And as our staffing levels improve, I will make every effort to return the SRO to the school.
Thank you for your patience and your outpouring of support for the SRO program. As challenging as this decision is to make, it's encouraging to see how much this position and this person is valued to the school district. As always, the Public Safety Department will provide services to our Rohnert Park Schools in order to make them a safe place.
Sincerely,
Chief Tim Mattos