Montgomery Co. to consider cutting school officers

WASHINGTON - Members of the Montgomery County Council Monday will consider removing police officers from schools as lawmakers scramble to save money in the middle of the fiscal year. Council members hope to cut as much as $36 million from the current year's budget, and a council committee will look at removing the school system's nine police officers assigned to monitor middle and high schools. The cuts could save $518,000, but present a touch choice. Just last Friday, an officer assigned to Walt Whitman High School arrested two students after it was reported one brought a stun gun to school. Other officers have been credited with developing good relationships with students, who let them know when something may be wrong. County Executive Isiah Leggett also proposed cutting nearly $2 million from the county's health and human services budget. That could affect an energy assistance program which helps low-income residents pay their energy bills. SOURCE: WTOP