School resource officers in the largest city in western Massachusetts will now be required to receive national training.
Two incidents in Springfield schools, both involving a physical altercation between a resource officer and a student, resulted in a new signed agreement between the School Department and the Police Department.
All officers assigned to schools must be certified by the National Association of School Resource Officers.
Up to now, the training was suggested, but not required, according Springfield School Committee Vice-Chairman Chris Collins.
"It guarantees that all of our officers will be trained. As it turned out when we looked, some officers were and some weren't," said Collins.
The new agreement underscores that police officers are responsible for security and investigating criminal activity with student disciplinary issues left to school administrators.
