A group of Elk County businesses made it possible for a local school to add some extra security.
This is the first time St Marys Area School District resource officers will have a car to patrol all four of their school campuses.
“Officer Lovett was approached by the St. Marys Police Department and said we have a vehicle that we’re going to retire, do you think the school district would want it?,” Superintendent Brian Toth said.
In order to cover the cost of the car, officer John Lovett reached out to local businesses, and eight of the, chipped in. Now, the car’s been in operation for a month.
“Our patrol car will be used by the officers for going school to school, it will be at sporting events outside, it will be utilized for daily routine traffic enforcement. It is mainly a deterrent towards crime,” he said.
Superintendent Toth says this is just one of many ways the district is working to keep students and staff safe.
“If you really want to keep things as safe as possible, you have to put the manpower and resources behind it,” he said.
The district wants to continue increasing security at the schools, and plans to add a seventh school resource officer.