MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford School District in collaboration with the Medford Police Department are addressing some rumors they say have been circulating recently on Facebook.
According to a joint statement released Tuesday, MPD Chief Ivens and MSD Superintendent Bret Champion say concerns in regards to Officer Josh Doney’s recent transfer from the School Resource Officer (SRO) position at South Medford High School back to the patrol division, have been circulating online.
More specifically the organizations say, “the rumors that Officer Doney was transferred from SRO back to patrol because he voiced safety concerns that the district and the police department did not want to address are not true.”
Safety is a top priority for both MSD and Medford police, making all decisions based on the security of students, staff, and the local community. Through the collaboration between the two organizations, Medford has the longest standing SRO program in the state as well as a recent expansion to include several school marshals rotating through at the elementary schools.
They also say that it is a common procedure for officers to be transferred to other areas within the department and that Officer Doney’s reassignment was not disciplinary.
According to the statement, a new SRO has already been assigned to South Medford High School, with an official announcement to come soon.
Ivens and Champion ended the joint statement thanking the community for their support and by saying, “allowing false rumors to spread undermines the positive safety impact that the School Resource Officer and School Marshals programs have in our community.”
The Medford Education Association also released a statement following Officer Doney’s transfer, extending thanks and appreciation for his dedication to students. “We need more people like him in our schools focused on solving problems including drugs, guns, and violence and not being afraid to tackle them head on.”
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