School Resource Officer to rejoin regular patrol at NAPD

By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com

North Attleborough Police Officer Kristine Crosman—the town’s School Resource Officer for the last two years—will likely resume her duties with the department’s regular patrol.

According to Police Chief Richard McQuade, the decision comes as the department is working to fill a number of open positions. He said that Crosman’s transfer to the patrol division would likely happen soon, though the situation is fluid. In order to maintain a presence at the schools, extra patrols would be assigned when possible.

McQuade plans to meet with the Town Council to discuss the matter. School Superintendent John Antonucci was reached, but deferred comment to the police department. 

“We will do our best to have some presence in her absence,” said McQuade on Tuesday, adding that once the open positions are filled, an SRO could return to the schools.

Officer Crosman has been with the department for around 19 years. The news has caused concern among parents, who view her as an important part of the schools. A petition on Change.org signed by 245 people calls for increasing pay for NAPD Officers. The creator of the petition wrote that some students have safety concerns with Crosman gone and others have come to rely on her.

“With the Resource Officer here, students feel safe,” the petition states. “The students in the school trust her.”

On social media, some have echoed the concerns about what will happen once Crosman is no longer a presence at the schools. Others have spoken about the fact North Attleborough is facing these staffing issues and what it means for the community.

Crossman was appointed to the SRO position in August 2019. At that time, she said the decision to apply stemmed from a desire to do more in town and gain more experience. In addition to going on patrols, Crosman has also handled community police assignments at different town events. Funding for the position came from the recent override vote at Town Meeting. 

The position focuses on school safety but with an educational component. Some aspects to the role include assessments of school security, meeting with administrators, and handling cases related to the schools. Crosman’s office in the high school has a sign on the door, on which she writes inspirational messages for the students.