Tuesday marks the official commencement of permanent full-time posts in the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department for a school resource officer and patrol deputy in Baxter. A 28E Agreement between the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and the school district was approved by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors back in late April. According to Sheriff Brad Shutts, the Baxter School Resource Officer will cost a total of $125,000 over three years thanks to a federal grant.
The annual amount that the grant will offer is $41,666. In the first year, the Baxter Community School District will provide $45,000, with subsequent three-year increments of $2,500.
The agreement between the sheriff’s office and the Baxter School District for School Resource Officers expires on June 30, 2029. The full-time patrol officer contract is valid through the end of June 2030. For the first year, the City of Baxter will pay Jasper County $130,416 to cover all of the expenses. Additionally, Baxter donated the equipment from the city’s former police force to the county. The annual cost to the City of Baxter in the final year of the patrol contract will be $149,185.
