Worcester County private schools look to have deputies on-site

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. – The possibility of sheriff’s deputies patrolling private schools is being considered by Worcester County officials.

The discussion happened at the last County Commissioners’ meeting. It focused on all private schools, but specifically Most Blessed Sacrament, Seaside Christian Academy, and Worcester Prep.

Principal of Seaside Christian Academy, Emily Neville, said having extra security for the students would be beneficial from both sides.

“It would be wonderful to have security in the buildings for all kinds of reasons. Since I’ve been here, we’ve had some incidents from the mall, bank robberies, and people escaping from the bank robbery. We don’t know where the suspects are, so we have to close down our school.”

Commissioners are interested in funding formulas that would enable that. The idea is still in the early stages.

Estimated costs to start the program would be close to $1 million. That will include salaries, cars, equipment, and staffing.

Commissioners are looking at criteria for private schools that need them. Neville said safety should be a priority for all schools.

“We owe all children wherever they are, wherever they go to school, the ability to come to school safely. It doesn’t matter if it’s a public or private school, they all need to feel safe coming to school.”

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office currently posts one deputy to each of the county’s 14 public schools.

No official partnership between Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and private schools in the area has been reached at this time.