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South Bend shares proposals for school resource officer contract

Anthony Pearson, school resource officer at Riley High School, walks down the main staircase in this file photo.

SOUTH BEND — A draft of a new agreement governing South Bend police assigned in public schools makes few major changes from the existing contract, but it does lay out significantly more detail on training required of officers working in close proximity to students.

South Bend city and school district officials have been working on the agreement for months after community activists this summer called for the removal of officers from the South Bend corporation buildings.

The new draft outlines specific expectations for officers’ training, authority within school buildings and work alongside other district employees. The Tribune was provided a draft of the proposed SRO agreement, which will be discussed in a public meeting Tuesday at Riley High School to gather community feedback.

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