AUBURN - The school resource officer program that put police officers in Auburn's schools has run out of money and is in serious jeopardy of being eliminated.

In an effort to advance community policing, the U.S. Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office supplied Auburn with a $600,000 three-year grant, with the stipulation that the city would provide funding for the fourth year. The money funded six Auburn schools police officers: two at Auburn High School, one each at East and West middle schools, and two shared between the five elementary schools.

But now that fourth year has arrived and the program is out of money. The school district's 2004-2005 budget proposal provides less than half of the program's cost.

"My hope is that the school district will help us," Auburn Police Chief Gary J. Giannotta said. This year, the program cost the city $290,000, which includes salaries and benefits. Giannotta thinks it would be fair for the city and school district to split the cost next year.

"The entire community is going to pay a very dear price if the program ends," Giannotta said.

Some say the officers' presence and bond with students has prevented violence and thefts.

"The greatest thing about the program is that the officers have gained the trust of the students," said Sgt. David J. Buckingham, supervisor of the SRO program. "We've had such positive results - bomb threats are almost nonexistent. Now the students come to them, and the officers can be pro-active. The problem before was everything was reactive. It is like Homeland Security - we don't know what we've prevented."

Both the fire and police departments have saved man hours thanks to the SRO's handling incidents on the scene, and in a much more timely fashion.

"If the officers are out of the schools," said Buckingham, "we will take a serious step backwards."

Officer Steve Montgomery has become a valued member of the school community at West Middle School. "Having Officer Montgomery here has been extremely helpful to us," Principal Deborah Carey said. "He does a lot of education with our kids."

Montgomery teaches more than 80 classes throughout the year and Carey said he has become a valuable parent connection.

"It's reassuring for parents to know there's an authority here," Carey said. "The community needs to decide that this is important enough to invest in. I believe that they are worth investing in."

District Superintendent John Plume agrees. "Behavior that is distracting from instruction has diminished - harassment, bullying and fighting," he said. "It creates an atmosphere that is positive."

Officer Christopher McLoughlin has been with the police department 14 years, and was assigned to East Middle School in 1999.

"I thought it was a great idea," McLoughlin said. "For so long, kids associated a police officer with something bad happening. This idea was to create a bond between cops and kids, and they can see that we do good."

His first challenge when he started at the school was gaining acceptance. "(Faculty and parents) were concerned with someone having a gun at all times," McLoughlin said. "It was much easier for the kids to accept."

He is now part of a team of administrators, social workers, a school psychologist and a school nurse who develop a plan when a child is in trouble.

"Some of the hardest situations are when kids come in and say they've been physically or sexually abused," McLoughlin said.

As difficult as their stories can be to hear, he is glad the students come to him. "I can do something to try and change it once I know."

The bond of trust McLoughlin has created has led to a safer environment for everyone. In his first year, he removed seven knives from students. He was made aware of the weapons by other students.

"They are concerned with the safety of the building," McLoughlin said.

Before he arrived, the school was inundated with bomb threats. McLoughlin arrested a student his first year, and there has only been one bomb threat since.

He teaches students about bullying, DWI and the dangers of being a runaway. He said many parents do not realize drugs can be a problem in middle school, and that there are no socioeconomic barriers in abuse. McLoughlin blames peer pressure. "If a kid thinks he'll be accepted, he may try it," he said.

"If I know about the problem, I can talk to them," he said. "Most of the time, I am an unofficial mentor."

While both the city police department and the district recognize the many benefits of the SRO program, both are also strapped financially.

"I thought the district would be able to carry it forward," Plume said.

Business Executive Marianne O'Connor said that while this year's budget already includes some extra revenue , she expects more of the higher paid teachers to retire, which could free up additional dollars for the program.

Plume has only been able to offer the city $75,000 at this point, far short of the $145,000 that Giannotta was looking for. "I'd like to meet him halfway," Plume said. "A lot depends on how we finish up the year."

McLoughlin thinks the program may seem too easy to cut because its benefits are hidden.

"In 1999, we had Columbine, and people said we need police officers in the schools," McLoughlin said. "Now, it is out of sight, out of mind. People have a false sense of security. People who work in schools know it could happen any day."

Staff writer Shelly Oddo can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shelly.oddo@lee.net