A forum is being planned for April 24 to talk about drug use in the community.
LUDLOW – Police Chief James McGowan has agreed to pay half the cost of a school resource officer position out of next year’s Police Department budget, Selectman William Rooney said.
Rooney made the comments to town residents at a recent selectmen’s meeting.
Residents asked whether they should talk to the police chief if the position is not funded next year.
“You should talk to me,” Rooney responded.
Rooney is urging residents to attend an April 24 forum to get the community to begin to combat the problem of teen drinking and drug use.
Rooney says the community has a drug problem, and it needs to start talking about it.
Rooney first made the comments at a forum held at Baird Middle School in February. The forum was called to update parents on efforts to combat bullying by students, but Rooney said the drug problem is another problem which needs to be addressed.
The school district is planning the April 24 forum on teenage drinking and the effect of alcohol and drug use on students’ growing and developing brains.
The School Department is expected to be asked to fund the balance of a school resource officer in the schools from its fiscal 2013 school budget.
Parents at the February forum said there is a problem with abuse of the prescription drug Oxycontin in the community. They said there are homes in town where Oxycontin is being sold to teens.
Oxycontin use can lead to addiction and increased house and car breaks, Rooney said.
Police Officer Paul Dobek said that restoring a police officer position at the high school would be part of the solution to solving the drug problem in town.
Rooney said many parents think that drug use will not affect their families and are surprised to find out that it is prevalent in their neighborhoods.
Restoration of a school resource officer position will help police to be more effective in dealing with teen drug use, Rooney said.