CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The Circleville Police Department is officially resuming full control of security and law enforcement inside Circleville City Schools following the conclusion of a temporary agreement with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
The transition marks a shift back to a city-managed School Resource Officer (SRO) program after the district briefly utilized county resources for campus safety.
Restoring the City’s Dedicated SRO Program
With the contract with the Sheriff’s Office ending, Circleville City Council has moved to restore a permanent, dedicated city police presence within the school district. The new arrangement revives the city’s plan to create two brand-new SRO positions within the Circleville Police Department.
Because these are newly created roles rather than reassignments from the current roster, city officials emphasized that taking back control of the schools will not reduce the number of officers patrolling regular neighborhood streets.
Cost-Sharing Agreement Details
To fund the returning city program, Circleville City Schools and the city have established a new financial cost-sharing agreement for the upcoming year:
- Circleville City Schools will cover 65% of the total cost for the two city SRO positions.
- The City of Circleville will absorb the remaining 35%.
While both entities expect to keep this partnership long-term, council members noted that the 65/35 split is subject to review and could be renegotiated in the future alongside the police department’s standard labor contracts.
Chief Fisher’s Vision: Year-Round Utility and Community Policing
Circleville Police Chief Kenny Fisher stated that the department is ready to seamlessly step back into the hallways. Chief Fisher also noted that the two selected SROs will remain highly utilized when classes are not in session. During summer break and school holidays, the officers will transition back to regular road patrol duty to address traffic complaints and neighborhood public safety needs across the city.
