Officers Pulled From Schools

Topeka’s new police chief says his department is providing far more officers to the local school district than its contract requires and thus will be reassigning some of them.

Soon after James Brown became chief in October he informed the Topeka School District of his intentions. Each year the school district signs a contract with the police department to boost its own 12-person police force.

Last year’s contract called for the department to provide four officers to the school district for a fee of $366,000, but instead has been providing 11.

Brown has pulled two officers from the school district and says he plans to remove more.

Superintendent Julie Ford said her district can’t pay $366,000 a year for fewer services than it previously received.

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Associated Press Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal