TPS favors grant bid for school officer

Tucumcari Public School’s superintendent and school board members voiced support for the city police chief’s proposal to seek a federal grant that would help pay for a school resource officer.

District superintendent Aaron McKinney said during the board’s May 15 meeting that Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez is seeking a $125,000 grant that would cover 50% of the cost of a school officer for three years.

The district’s share of the cost would be 25%, or about $62,000, during that period, with the city covering the other 25%.

McKinney said the district’s cost would be covered by solar and wind farm revenue.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” McKinney said about the prospect of the district having a police officer on its campus.

Board member Jerry Lopez was more enthusiastic in his endorsement.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Lopez said. Fellow board member Matthew Pacheco said he agreed.

McKinney said such an officer might help administrators in disciplinary matters with students. The officer also would be present during school events, such as football games.

Reached by phone a day after the meeting, Lopez said she likely would pursue a grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS Office, through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Informed about the school board’s support for the idea, Lopez said she would bring her proposal to the next city commission meeting.

“We’re not even sure if we’d be eligible for it, but it’s worth a shot,” she said.

If the grant is awarded, Lopez said she hopes to have an officer at TPS by the start of the next school year this fall.

Several board members talked about police presence at Tucumcari schools after a recent threat of a school shooting circulated on social media to several New Mexico districts.

Officers from city police, sheriff’s deputies, New Mexico State Police and the district attorney’s office stepped up patrols in and near Tucumcari schools. The threat later was determined to be not credible.

Tucumcari school board members periodically have discussed the possibility of a district officer, especially after a mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022.