Portageville votes “yes” to approve funding for a school resource officer

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. (KFVS) - Voters in Portagevill, Missouri say yes to funding a school resource officer.

A vote that is similar to people who frequent the polls.

“The issue was on the ballot last year,” said Officer Chris Cooley.

There were 128 “yes” votes and 75 “no” votes, with the “yes” votes winning 63 percent of the vote.

In 2018, voters in Portageville approved a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund a school resource officer for Portageville schools.

The problem is... “we didn’t know until after it was passed and got to the department of revenue that the class city that we are in is not allowed to pass a quarter-cent sales tax. There for the city had to put it on the ballot again,” said Cooley.

This year, if voters approve the tax, it will go through thanks to legislation from state representative Don Rone.

Officer Cooley has been a resource officer since 2002. If it passes, he can be the full-time, long-term resource officer.

He said he does more than just protect the kids.

"It helps build a bridge between the children and the police and the community as a whole and we have more good times than bad at the school,” said Cooley.

He said a quarter-cent is a small price to pay for safety.

“It’s just a quarter of a cent if the person spends four dollars the sales tax is a penny. I believe that our children’s safety is worth more than a penny,” said Cooley

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