Eastern KY School District to Start their Own Police Department

Perry County Schools is establishing its own police department to replace the school resource officers previously provided by the sheriff’s office. After years of contracting with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, the district now aims to employ full-time officers dedicated exclusively to their schools.

According to Jody Maggard, chief financial officer for Perry County Schools, the district has been exploring this idea for several years, consulting with other districts that have made similar changes and observed positive results. The decision was made to move forward with this approach.

While the initial investment will be higher—covering vehicles, equipment, uniforms, and additional training for new school resource officers—the district anticipates long-term savings compared to ongoing contracts with the sheriff’s office.

Maggard emphasized that the greatest advantage will be having a consistent presence in school buildings and building stronger relationships with students. The district believes that having long-term employees will reduce turnover and foster lasting connections with students.

The plan is to have the new police force operational by August 2026, ensuring at least one officer is present in every school. These officers will possess the same authority and training as other police officers, with the distinction that they will be employed directly by the school district.