Hancock County’s public schools are set to be well protected, once again, this school year as agreements are being finalized to continue offering a prevention resource officer program.

Last week, Weirton Council and the Hancock County Board of Education approved their portions of an agreement which would put a law enforcement officer at each of the county’s public schools. The Hancock County Commission still needs to agree to its part, and we believe that will happen soon.

Once finalized, two officers from the Weirton Police Department will be designated as PRO’s and assigned to Weir Middle School and Weir High School. Hancock County Sheriff’s deputies will be on hand at Weirton Elementary, New Manchester Elementary, A.T. Allison Elementary, Oak Glen Middle, Oak Glen High School and the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center.

Another deputy will be made available to the county’s alternative learning center, or to roam among the schools as necessary.

The PRO program has been available, in some form, for Hancock County Schools since the mid-1990s. Most of the funding is provided through a grant, as well as the county’s school levy.

PROs serve an important function in our communities. In addition to providing law enforcement operations in our schools, they also teach our youth the importance of laws safety, and serve as an additional conduit for the students if they learn of something dangerous or are in such a situation themselves.

They help to build relationships that, hopefully, are able to remain throughout the students’ lives, which then can be carried on to future generations as well.

We are glad to see the PRO program continue in Hancock County, and hope it will remain for years to come.