By Joanna Putman
Police1
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Education has extended its partnership with Off Duty Management to place armed police officers in schools across six counties, according to a news release.
This initiative is designed to complement Arizona’s existing school resource officer program and address safety concerns amid a national shortage of police officers, according to the release.
State Superintendent Tom Horne announced the extension of the agreement through 2026, emphasizing the importance of protecting students, educators and staff.
“The safety of school campuses is a priority for my administration,” Horne said. “If some armed maniac should try to invade a school, the most effective response is to have well-trained armed law enforcement officers to protect everyone on campus.”
The partnership, which began in October 2023, aims to fill vacant school safety officer positions by working with local law enforcement agencies and school districts, according to the report. Off Duty Management’s OfficerTRAK software is designed to allow off-duty officers from one jurisdiction to work in schools in another.
“This agreement is a complement to the school resource officer program and illustrates how officers working as school safety officers also serve as trusted role models for students,” said Mike Kurtenbach, the Department of Education’s director of school safety.
He added that over 700 officers are currently trained and eligible for these assignments in participating school districts, according to the release.