TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Marana Unified School District is placing school safety officers at ten campuses this school year, funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Arizona Department of Education’s School Safety Program.
The funding covers officer salaries, including two new positions at Twin Peaks K-8 and Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 schools. Tangerine Farms K-8 is among the campuses receiving an officer for the first time.
The school safety officers are certified police working off-duty hours and meet the same training requirements as full-time school resource officers.
“They do perimeter safety checks, they participate in class lessons. They help with supervision at dismissal and drop off which is a time where there’s a lot of activity on campus,” said Nikki Simpson, associate principal at Twin Peaks K-8.
Officers said the connections they form with students are a central part of the work.
“They’re more likely to report things to us. Some of us are specialized in mental health, so we can connect them with resources through the school,” said Officer Libni Garcia of the Marana Police Department. “It can be something as simple as giving somebody knuckles, helping some of the female students, helping them fix their hair, just going up to the staff members asking them how their day’s going.”
Simpson said the officers have become a valued part of campus life.
“They build positive relationships with our students and community, and we just love having them here,” she said.
The positions are funded through May 2027 in partnership with the Marana Police Department and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
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