The Cookeville Police Department looking to hire school patrol officers.
Captain Brent Anderson said the police department has had school patrol officers and crossing guards for several years, providing them to all schools within the city. Anderson said school patrol officers basically serve as crossing guards.
“They arrive at the school in the morning and help make sure that our children get to school safely,” Anderson said. “They help keep the traffic flowing and help the parents and the buses get out of the school properties and on their way in a timely fashion.”
Anderson said the school patrol officers are part-time positions as they only work two hours a day Monday through Friday. Anderson said people do not need to have any law enforcement experience and that the job would be great for Tennessee Tech students.
“It would be a great stepping stone,” Anderson said. “You know you were actually a city employee so you are in the city system. You receive some training on traffic control and get to know some of the police officers. You get to know some of the school people so someone seeking a role in education it might even be a way to get their foot in the door there as well.”
Anderson said currently the police department is having to cover the openings with other officers. Anderson said the police department is looking to hire school patrol officers as soon as possible.
“Well we definitely want to fill the positions,” Anderson said. “We are committed to the program so in the meantime patrol officers and traffic division officers are filling that void but it is taking those officers off of the road and away from responding to calls in order to do that.”
Anderson said the police department will be taking applications till all of the positions are filled. Anderson said the department is hopeful to begin scheduling interviews within the next couple of weeks.
