Lieutenant Dale Hampton at LWPD has confirmed that a school resource officer at Bok Academy North has been removed from their duties at the school pending an internal investigation. Due to protections in the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights, the cause of the investigation has not been confirmed and the identity of the officer has not been released (Police Officers Bill of Rights).
According to Hampton, Bok Academy North in Lake Wales has been given a replacement resource officer for the course of this investigation. Bok Academy North is a Lake Wales Charter School.
The implementation of School Resource Officers (SROs) in Lake Wales, Florida, began in 2004 through a collaboration between the Lake Wales Police Department and the Lake Wales Charter School system. This partnership aimed to enhance the safety of students and staff at Lake Wales High School by assigning dedicated police officers to the campus.
The primary purpose of introducing SROs is to ensure a secure learning environment. Officers assigned to schools are responsible for maintaining safety, mentoring students, and addressing issues such as drug prevention, gang activity, truancy, and bullying. Their presence allows for immediate response to incidents and fosters positive relationships between law enforcement and the student body.
Copy of the Lake Wales Police Department & City of Lake Wales RSO Agreement: Agreement
