Joint Press Release Melrose Police and Public Schools Welcome School Resource Officer to Middle School

MELROSE — Chief Michael L. Lyle and Superintendent Cyndy Taymore are pleased to announce that Police Officer William (Bill) Higgins began as the School Resource Officer (SRO) at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS) this week.

Left to right: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Brent Conway and Police Officer William Higgins, who began as the School Resource Officer this week. (Courtesy Photo)

Officer Higgins will be assigned to the middle school and will serve as a positive role model to students, working to assist them with any problems that may arise inside or outside of school. His first day at MVMMS was Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Students and families should also keep an eye out for Officer Higgins at after school extracurricular activities and events, all of which he will make an effort to attend on a regular basis.

Melrose High School has had an SRO in place for more than 20 years. To launch the same program at MVMMS, the Melrose Police Department received a $125,000 grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to be used over three years.

“Officer Higgins’ presence in the middle school certainly adds value to this community, as he will work to build relationships between the middle school and the police department,” Chief Lyle said. “I’m confident that a continued police officer presence at the school will be beneficial to students, as it has been at the high school.”

A 1990 MHS graduate, Officer Higgins worked as a police officer at the Nantucket Police Department from 1999 to 2012 — when he joined the Melrose Police Department.

Officer Higgins holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Salem State University, is an active member of the Massachusetts National Guard and is EMT certified.

“We’re extremely pleased to have a full-time law enforcement presence at the middle school to interact with and assist students,” Superintendent Taymore said. “I know Officer Higgins will be a positive influence on our middle school community and I look forward to working with him and the Melrose Police Department.”

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*Joint Press Release* Melrose Police and Public Schools Welcome School Resource Officer to Middle School