About the Position
The Fairmont Police Department and the Fairmont Area Schools have shared the full-time services of an SRO since 2001. The Fairmont Police Department and the Fairmont Area Schools have had formal connections with each other throughout their history including D.A.R.E. in the 1990’s and as far back as student/officer school patrol in the 1950’s.
In 2019, Fairmont Police Department partnered with Southern Plains Education Cooperative to hire a dedicated SRO for Arise Academy.
Fairmont PD SRO’s attend an extensive training course through the National Association of School Resource Officers in addition to other targeted training.
School Resource Officer History
- 1950’s-1970’s: Sgt. Major Jones- School Patrol
- 1980’s: Officer Bob Meschke
- 1990’s: Sgt. Kevin Kelly D.A.R.E.
- 2000-2002: Officer Michael Hunter (Now Fairmont Police Chief Hunter) D.A.R.E. and 1st Full-Time SRO
- 2002-2004: Sgt. Lowell Spee, Sgt. Steve Ring, Sgt. Corey Klanderud Counteract
- 2002-2004: Sgt. Corey Klanderud Full-Time SRO
- 2004-2015: Officer Jaime Bleess
- 2017-2018 Officer Michael Beletti
- 2018-2019: Officer Jason Christenson
- 2019-2024: Officer Shannon Bass
- 2019-2023: Officer Will Murray (Arise Academy)
- 2024-Current: Officer Lily Paine
Current School Resource Officer
In 2024, Officer Lily Paine was selected to serve as the School Resource Officer for Fairmont Area Schools.