Moorhead school resource officers head back to classrooms

FARGO (KFGO) – With clarification from the attorney general, Moorhead police school resource officers are back.   

The police department and school district made the decision. School resource officers were removed on the first day of school out of concern with a new “use of force” law that was approved in the final days of the legislative session.   

Police Chief Shannon Monroe says he feared that the law may have subjected his officers to civil or criminal liability. 

“It could be taking a hold of someone’s arm, any kind of a restraint, they were not allowed to do, unless it was to prevent imminent bodily harm to themselves or another,” said Monroe. “So any of those cases where you have a disorderly student, someone trespassing on the grounds that is refusing to leave, none of that is imminent bodily harm.” 

While Monroe says he’s comfortable with the latest legal opinion, he says he believes the legislature will have to work to fine tune the law. 

Story by Paul Jurgens / KFGO