Sen. Tim Sheehy introduced a bill this week to allow a federal income tax exemption on retirement pay for any retired law enforcement officers and veterans who serve as school resources officers.

The bill, Strengthening Resources for Our Schools, or SROs, Act, requires that those officers and veterans meet all public officer standards and training requirements.

Under the proposed legislation, if they serve at least 10 years as an SROs, they’ll be granted a lifetime exemption on federal income tax on retirement pay.

Slaughter pitches reserve deputy SRO to GFPS board

Sheehy introduced the bill Nov. 18 with co-sponsors by Senators Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Jim Justice, R-W.Va. It’s been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Rep. Ryan Zinke and Don Davis, D-N.C. introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives on Nov. 18 that’s been referred to the Ways and Means committee.

Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter has launched a local campaign for school safety as he’s developing a paid reserve deputy program, under a state law change that went into effect Oct. 1.

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Slaughter hasn’t begun recruiting for the program yet but has finished the job description, which under review by the county human resources department.

Calumet Montana donated $50,000 to the Sheriff Legacy Foundation, which Slaughter said is going toward training to start this program and this year’s expenses.

That donation needs to be formally accepted by the County Commission and requires a budget amendment for Slaughter to be able to spend the money on personnel. He said he’s hoping to get it on the next commission agenda.

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Slaughter has proposed piloting one of the paid reserve deputies as an SRO in Great Falls Public Schools.

He pitched the idea to the school board during their Oct. 29 work session and the board will formally consider the proposal during their Nov. 24 meeting.

GFPS staff are recommending that the board approve a pilot program, with the requirements that program updates and evaluations be provided quarterly to the board and that the program be subject to the execution of appropriate agreements and requirements.

The district currently contracts with the city for five Great Falls Police Department officers as SROs.

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During the 2024-2025 school year, SROs responded to 830 call outs, which was 27 more than the previous year.

Of those, 437 were at GFPS’ request and 357 occurred off campus but were referred to SROs because they involved school aged children.

During the Oct. 29 work session, GFPD officers shared statistics from the last school year and showed five-year comparisons.

Capt. Brian Black, who heads GFPD’s investigations bureau, which includes the SROs, walked through the data, which shows an increasing trend.

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At the elementary schools, there were 97 calls during the last school year, down slightly from the previous year and significantly from a spike after COVID with 235 calls during the 2022-2023 school year.

Last year, SROs wrote 303 citations, up from 274 the previous year and 280 the year before that, the most being at Great Falls High with 132.

Of those, 25 cases went through the diversion program, 69 had GFPS consequences as opposed to formal citations.

Black said the 2024-2025 school year was their first partnering with juvenile probation as part of the diversion program, with one officer covering the high schools and one at East Middle School.

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Sgt. Katie Cunningham, who oversees the SROs, said it’s been good to have probation officers in the buildings and it helps those kids access more resources as needed.

The pilot program at GFPS will be funded entirely by CCSO and there’s no cost to GFPS.

GFPD and CCSO will work with district administration to design the pilot, which will “recognize and honor the culture” of the existing SRO program.

The reserve deputy will be recruited, screened and hired in collaboration with GFPD and GFPS, be completely sworn, meet all requirements of active police officers and be under Cunnigham and Black’s direct supervision.

The school board will review the program annually during a public meeting.