G.R.A.M.P.A. COPS By Jere L. Spurlin Police Chief and Steve Schwein Captain Fort Myers, Florida, Police Department The School Resource Officer (SRO) Program is a valuable drug deterrence and safety program acclaimed by school teachers, administrators, school children, and parent associations. Unfortunately, limited financial resources in most jurisdictions prohibit administrators from staffing these programs adequately. Most chiefs and sheriffs feel compelled to assign personnel for ``street'' patrol rather than for administrative and support positions, which are the categories under which most school resource officers fall. In an effort to expand the services of the School Resource Officer Program, yet live within the proposed budgetary constraints, the Fort Myers, Florida, Police Department took an introspective review of its 10-year program. It determined that the most essential component to the program's success was a patient, understanding officer who enjoyed being with children. This officer also needed sufficient job knowledge to provide a valuable learning experience to children of all ages and had to be totally committed to both law enforcement and education. While there were many officers who met the criteria, they were already assigned to critical positions within the department. Basically, the most qualified people for the job were the least affordable. This lead the department to turn to a readily available external resource, which resulted in the establishment of the G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program. WHO ARE G.R.A.M.P.A. COPS? As the name of the program implies, G.R.A.M.P.A. (Getting Retirees Actively Motivated to Policing Again) Cops are retired law enforcement officers who, for one reason or another, want to get involved in policing again. To tap this valuable resource, the department recruited retired police officers to work in schools, along with school resource officers, to carry the drug prevention message to youths. Essentially, police retirees are no different from those who retire from the public sector. Some cherish their free time and enjoy their retirement, while others are bored and miss the day-to-day camaraderie of their fellow officers. Under the G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program, retired police officers are certified as auxiliary officers, trained in the school resource function, and assigned to local schools. The primary mission of all G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops is to promote drug abuse prevention in all city schools through education and counseling. In Fort Myers, G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops deliver educational programs to youths through standardized programs that have been developed and approved by the police department. But, they still can be called upon to assist school resource officers in other programs like bicycle safety or child molestation prevention. RECRUITING Through contact with the community, the department identified nearly 1,000 senior citizens with varying degrees of law enforcement experience who lived within the Fort Myers area. Some of these law enforcement retirees even organized as a civic group so that they could hold monthly meetings to fraternize with fellow officers and to reminisce on their law enforcement careers. Advertising for applicants for the G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program through the printed and electronic media was also used to attract applicants. It also provided much-needed recognition to the School Resource Officer Program. OFFICER SELECTION CRITERIA In order to qualify for the G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program, all applicants must: * Have a minimum of 5 years' sworn law enforcement experience * Be at least 40 years of age at the date of hire * Be in good physical condition as determined by the departmental physician * Meet the basic requirements for admittance into the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Basic Recruit School for reserve and auxiliary officers * Have a Florida driver's license and a good driving record * Submit letters of recommendation from three superior officers from their former department who have knowledge of their work performance and character * Successfully pass a thorough background investigation, which will include a polygraph * Be screened by a police oral board which will be comprised of Fort Myers Police supervisory personnel and school resource officers representing various law enforcement agencies throughout the county. (Final appointment will be by the chief of police at the recommendations of the public information officer who is the supervisor of the School Resource Officer Program) * Submit dual applications to the City of Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Police Department * Realize that they are not subject to civil service protection TRAINING Because G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops are police retirees, most have a minimum of 20 years of law enforcement experience. Thus, formal training is not usually necessary. However, to ensure the continuity and integrity of the program, accepted applicants attend a 2-week training session at the police academy. There, they become familiar with the school resource officer function, policies of the school board, and current programs. Two days are dedicated to drugs and the prevention of drug abuse, how to recognize abusers, and steps to be taken to refer abusers to treatment programs. During the training, the duties, responsibilities, and community role of the reserve officer are outlined, because G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops become certified as reserve officers at the end of their training. This makes them eligible to participate in ride-along programs and crowd control at parades and sporting events. Also, administrative staff members and supervisors lecture on departmental policies, rules, regulations, and general and special orders. After graduating from the academy, G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops accompany experienced school resource officers for 1 week before assuming their regular assignments. FINANCIAL BENEFITS Aside from the obvious benefit of having experienced and qualified retirees interacting positively with the area's youth, G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops save the taxpayers money. In fact, the cost of manning the School Resource Officer Program with G.R.A.M.P.A. Cops instead of new, inexperienced police officers is half as expensive. (See Table A.) _________________________________________________________ Table A COST COMPARISON G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Police Officer Hourly $6.00 $ 9.06 X Benefits (35%) None 3.15 Total Cost $6.00 $12.21 _________________________________________________________ But, perhaps the greatest feature of the G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program is its ``easy financing.'' Not only is this program the most cost-effective means of providing children with drug abuse prevention counseling, but it is also eligible for funding under Florida Statute 932.704. Under the provisions of this statute, any department that has an aggressive policy in terms of seizing and selling contraband, vessels, motor vehicles, aircraft, and other personal property can finance their G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program with forfeited funds. CONCLUSION Without a doubt, the Fort Myers Police Department's G.R.A.M.P.A. Cop Program has greatly benefited the community. It has enabled experienced, seasoned officers to reenter the profession and has decreased operating costs to the department. It also allows the department to double the number of active school resource officers within its current budget or to significantly reduce the personnel costs of its respective SRO program. Police departments cannot afford to overlook or misuse valuable resources that are readily available to them. By employing retired law enforcement officers as auxiliary officers in service functions, a department not only gains a wealth of knowledge, ability, and expertise but also dedicated individuals who can contribute to the safety and well-being of the community.  Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253