Passing the torch
Tormala is new SRO
Trending
HOUGHTON -- At last week's regular meeting of Houghton City Council, Sargent Jason Tormala received council approval to become the new School Resource Officer for Houghton-Portage Township Schools (HPTS). Tormala aims to continue the new policy of having a school resource officer at HPTS, where he will maintain connections with students and help those in need within the school district.
Tormala replaces Kirk Mills, who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant after Lt. Nick Roberts retired earlier this month after more than 30 years with the department. The newest addition to the school, Tormala, said he is looking forward to getting to know students and staff at HPTS.
"The main concern I have is making sure that the students have a secure place to learn," he said. "Working with the principal, the superintendent and the staff to make sure that I can help out and be an additional resource for whether it's the staff or students, making sure I'm there for anything they might need."
Tormala said this was his first time stepping into a role like this. According to a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Justice, School Resource Officers typically deter disorder around campus, build relationships with students and educate them on topics such as drug safety and conflict awareness.
HPTS Superintendent Anders Hill said the school first acquired a resource officer four years ago for the first time in its nearly 170-year history. Hill added the cost required to have a resource officer on campus is split 70/30 between the school district and the City’s Police Department.
"We still have some of our funding left from a Michigan State Police grant that allows us to pay for 50% of the cost for an SRO. There's also some school safety funding that we hope to leverage this year to help pay for it," he said. "We absolutely see the benefit of not only providing our kids and our staff and our community with a safe learning environment, but also just that positive role model of law enforcement and what it does for the culture."
According to Hill, Houghton Police will front the rest of the costs in the summer months, when school is not in session, where Tormala will assist with any force duties in the city.
Tormala said his decade-long tenure with the HPD h as taught him lessons he will pass on to the kids at HPTS. "If it's someone who has mental health issues or homelessness or having any other types of issues at home that may not be in the school," he said. "That's something that I have experience with that I can also bring and try to help students get through."
Both Hill and Tormala said they wanted to thank the City of Houghton, Police Chief John Donnelly and City Manager Eric Waara for making sure HPTS has the most effective resources at their disposal to keep its community and students safe.