Logo courtesy of Washington Unified School District

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - During the regularly scheduled Washington Unified School District (WUSD) Board of Education meeting on Dec. 18, 2025, the Washington Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Washington Unified School District and the City of West Sacramento.

The agreement, made in collaboration with the West Sacramento Police Department (WSPD), formalizes the partnership for a School Resource Officer (SRO) set to begin in the 2026–27 school year. This action follows the West Sacramento City Council’s approval of the same Memorandum of Understanding on Dec. 3, 2025.

The Memorandum of Understanding creates a formal, five-year partnership (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031) in which Washington Unified School District and the City of West Sacramento jointly fund and coordinate one full-time School Resource Officer assigned to support all Washington Unified School District schools, with a primary focus on River City High School and Yolo High School. The agreement is designed to enhance existing safety efforts, foster positive relationships between students and law enforcement, and support a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for all students, staff and families.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the School Resource Officer is a full-time, sworn West Sacramento Police Department officer who will: maintain a consistent, visible presence on campuses and serve as a supportive mentor and trusted adult for students; prioritize prevention and intervention, including support around issues such as truancy, substance use, and gang activity, and provide safety education upon request; and assist with emergency response, participate in safety drills, and support training for students and staff on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and collaborate in the review of comprehensive school site safety plans.

The Memorandum of Understanding clearly states that the School Resource Officer will not be responsible for school discipline, routine student supervision such as hall or lunch duty, or access student records.

Washington Unified School District and West Sacramento Police Department will begin the process to select the dedicated School Resource Officer, with Washington Unified School District participating in interviews and providing input on the final candidate.

Once a candidate has been approved, Washington Unified School District and West Sacramento Police Department will finalize scheduling, training and implementation details to ensure the Student Resource Officer is prepared to support students and staff when the program launches in the 2026–27 school year.