Grant seeks to put officers back in MHHS

Mountain Home High School may soon be acquiring a full-time school resource officer.

Chief of Police John Walter, on behalf of both the city and county, is applying for a $91,679 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) that would return an official SRO to the high school after several years of not having one (due to budget constraints).

"Hopefully we will receive this grant," Walter said last week at a city council public hearing. "With the 9th grade moving over to the high school, making about a 45 percent increase in students, a high school resource officer would be helpful," he said.

According to Walter, there are many criteria for the city and Elmore County to meet and various steps to go through in order to receive the grant.

The federal funds for the grant are authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- the economic stimulus money.