School Resource Officer Leo Vazquez

Due to a cost sharing agreement Fillmore Unified School District will continue to have a School Resource Office (SRO) on campus during the school day. Officer Leo Vasquez will serve as the SRO. His salary and costs associated with having an SRO on campus will be split up between the District, the City of Fillmore and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. FUSD and the City each will be contributing $75,000 toward the annual costs and salary for the SRO. Captain Tim Hagel confirmed that the Sheriff’s office would be contributing $39,100 plus over $6,000 annually towards the cost of maintaining the police car. Hagel pointed out that the total cost associated with the SRO includes costs over and above the officer’s salary “such as liability insurance, workman comp etc. His salary is far-less than that and no where in the ballpark of the total costs.”

When asked about where Vasquez will be based, District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney responded that he expects him to use the office on the high school campus as previous SRO’s have, but that he will go to any campus when needed. Sweeney went on to comment “The SRO responds to the needs of FUSD. That is his assignment. I know he is planning on being a presence at every campus, visiting every campus every week.”

When asked about the petition presented to the School Board in May 2010 which was signed by 181 parents supporting the position that the money spent on the SRO would be better spent on educational needs Sweeney responded “There were several conversations about the SRO and his value to the District over the past two years. The Board decided that it was in the District's best interest to maintain the safety of our students and staff, therefore the continued funding of the position.”

Hagel provided information stating that there were 269 arrests on school campuses in FUSD in 2009. Hagel commented that this is the “highest arrest rate county wide” for SRO positions. And Hagel went on to state “These statistics represent that the SRO makes more arrests per year on campus than any other police officer makes in neighborhoods in town.” In the City of Fillmore “gang membership hovers at about 150” with many school age members, and some still attending Fillmore Middle School, Fillmore High School and Sierra High School, reported Hagel. The SRO’s specifice duties range from tracking all gang members who attend school and conducting home visits of truant students and bring them back to school to supervising dances, and other school events along with administering breath tests for marijuana use and other controlled substances. In addition Hagel believes the SRO is a clear deterrent to fighting.

Officer Vasquez is surely comfortable working with and around young people as he also serves as the youth advisor for the Boys and Girls Youth Explorers and is sure to be a vital part of maintaining the safest possible environment at Fillmore area schools.