[03/26/02]Three public schools here will get their first dedicated police officers, probably at the beginning of next school year, using a federal grant.

Called school resource officers, they will be sworn members of the Vicksburg Police Department, but stationed full time at Vicksburg Junior High School, Warren Central Junior High School and Vicksburg High School.

The $285,147 grant will pay three officers for three years, Marcia Weaver of the Vicksburg Planning Department said. After that, renewal is possible, the program could be ended or its cost borne locally

The grant is a remnant of President Clinton’s plan to hire 100,000 additional police officers in the United States, and Vicksburg and Warren County law enforcement agencies have received funds previously.

Vicksburg Warren School District law enforcement official Mike Ouzts said police officers spend time in schools now, but none is full time. “They come through walking on their regular beats and checking on things,” Ouzts said. “We have our own security we pay to keep on school grounds.” The district serves 9,000 students on 12 campuses.

In addition to keeping order in schools, the officers will have other duties, including serving as teachers, trainers, counselors, mentors and conflict mediators.

“By the time we hire three new officers and get them through training, it will probably be next school year,” Deputy Police Chief Richard O’Bannon said.

Vicksburg is one of six Mississippi law-enforcement agencies to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Policing Services.

Other Justice grants Vicksburg has received for community-policing efforts include COPS Fast, Universal Hiring and COPS More ’98.