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NEWPORT — Christopher Bell was sworn in as the Newport School District’s new school resource officer at the Newport City Council meeting on Monday, April 21.
Bell is a retired Bonner County Sheriff’s Office deputy with almost 30 years of experience. He enjoys working with children and has been a coach in the area for years.
His first day as school resource officer is May 2.
“This is a tremendous relief for us to have a resource officer and truly provides a strong sense of security for our students and staff and parents,” Superintendent Dave Smith wrote in an email.
The school district lost its last SRO at the end of the 2023–2024 school year.
While the City of Newport employs Bell, the school district pays the city monthly for his services. Bell’s contract is 180 days long per the school district calendar, but if he works for the city during non-school district events like the Newport Rodeo, the city will pay him for those additional services.
Bell receives health benefits and a $73,248 salary, which excludes additional time or duties incurred during the school year.
He will act as the school district’s security officer, working and collaborating with all local emergency response agencies. His job responsibilities include updating and further developing emergency response plans, maintaining visibility in all school district buildings, responding to any type of emergency and conducting any investigations necessary “to ensure student and staff safety,” Smith wrote.
Bell will attend community and sporting events hosted by the school district.
SEE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, 2A “He has a lot of experience, brings a lot of wealth and knowledge,” said Wade Nelson, Newport Police Department chief, at the April 21 meeting. “So we’re really excited.”
Before the meeting, Nelson said Bell will attend the next available Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy to be a commissioned officer in Washington. Commissioned officers can make arrests and since Bell was commissioned in Idaho, he will serve as a commissioned officer while he awaits the next academy, Nelson said. In the summer he will work for the Newport PD as much as he wants and is needed, Nelson said, with the city paying his health benefits if he doesn’t work.
The school district missed not having a school resource officer.
“We are extremely happy to have an SRO again,” Smith wrote. “And we appreciate the city’s help in making this happen.”
DON GRONNING CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.
