School resource officer joins Lamphere Schools

MADISON HEIGHTS — An armed school resource officer will provide an extra level of security at the Lamphere Schools, starting this month.   

The Madison Heights City Council approved the written agreement between the city and the Lamphere Schools district at the council meeting June 26. The city began budgeting for it last year.

The person selected for the position is officer Tim Hirst, of the Madison Heights Police Department. Corey Haines, the former police chief, worked on the program prior to retiring from the department, and said that Hirst is especially well-suited for the role.

“Officer Hirst has been our youth officer for over 10 years, and has already built relationships with school leaders and students alike,” Haines said via email, noting that Hirst has been with the Madison Heights Police Department for nearly 22 years. “The school resource officer will be working directly with the Lamphere school district and their administration.”

Rodney Thomas, the principal at Lamphere High, said Hirst knows the district well.

“There’s already an established relationship and mutual respect,” Thomas said in an email. “Having a dedicated school resource officer like Officer Hirst onsite will enhance communication, prevent potential incidents, and contribute to the overall well-being and academic success of our students.

“In addition, an SRO like Officer Hirst can play a pivotal role in not only providing another layer of security, but also establishing a positive relationship between law enforcement and our students,” he said. “We’re elated that he will be joining our district!”

Hirst was training at press time and could not return requests for comment.

Haines said that the school resource officer will make appearances at each building in the district at different times on an as-needed basis. Hirst will also attend events before and after normal school hours, as requested. He will be armed while performing his duties.

In addition to providing security services, the school resource officer will also evaluate each building’s safety protocols and assist with planning emergency operations. This will include drills for fires and tornadoes, as well as active shooter training and more.

As part of the arrangement, the Lamphere Schools will pay 60% of the total cost of the officer, while the city covers the other 40%.

“This position comes with many advantages for both the school district and the city, and we believe that this is a fair split of the cost of the officer,” Haines said.

The former chief noted that the Madison District Public Schools has also applied for grants through the Michigan State Police and other sources, which will fund a similar school resource officer, once obtained.

“The dialogue with the Lamphere school district has been amazing,” Haines said. “We have spoken about the possibility of an officer in the schools for a few years, and both districts have been completely on board. The administrations in both districts have been amazing to work with and have been extremely supportive in adding these new positions.”

Haines said that the MHPD has long been involved with both school districts, with regular walk-throughs of each building, safety training for school staff, and other programs like the Safe Stops program for student drivers, showing them how to properly respond to officers during traffic stops.

David Soltis, a member of the Madison Heights City Council, said he appreciates the addition of a school resource officer, but he feels there’s a deeper conversation to be had.

“Am I against a resource officer? Of course not. Is it beneficial to have an officer on location? Of course it is. As a teacher, I’ve seen them throughout numerous districts, but mostly high schools. But I’m very concerned that we will become complacent and not address what really needs to be addressed here, the 800-pound gorilla in the room, which is figuring out the issues back at home that lead to many of these violent acts (by student shooters),” Soltis said.

Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, said the school resource officer is a great example of how police are integrating themselves in the community.

“Officers assigned to the schools not only carry out regular law enforcement duties, but they also work with and talk to the students on a regular basis. This is different than regular street policing or dealing with adults; instead, it’s very much relationship-based,” Grafstein said via email.

“While these types of police roles have been around for over 60 years, they are new to Madison Heights,” she continued. “Much of their specialized training also deals with how to de-escalate situations, so that if a situation should arise, the officer has the experience to be the best person on the scene.”

Sean Fleming is a member of the Madison Heights City Council and its representative on the city’s Crime Commission.

“I’ve known Tim Hirst for over 20 years, and I believe he’s an outstanding officer who’s done well as the youth officer,” Fleming said. “His experience guiding teens goes perfectly with his new scope of work as the resource officer. He’s just a good role model for the kids.”