Middlesex Borough police are going back to school

MIDDLESEX BOROUGH – Paul Muldowney is going back to school, though he most likely won't be needing a new backpack or lunch box.

Middlesex Police Chief Matthew P. Geist announced Muldowney's new assignment as school resource officer for the borough’s six public schools.

"In addition to the obvious safety and security benefits, this program will allow us to help guide and mentor our youth," Geist said in a statement. "The positive relationships developed between School Resource Officers and students often continue well past graduation day."

The department’s school resource officer program, originally implemented in 1999, was discontinued in 2021 due to staffing shortages. By reimplementing the program, the police department, in partnership with the Board of Education, aims to enhance school security by having a law enforcement presence in the public schools and to provide the students and the faculty members with an easily accessible law enforcement resource.

"Thanks to the support of our mayor and the governing body, we are able now to re-establish this valuable program," Geist said.

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"We are thrilled that we have the ability to improve school safety and bridge the gap between our police department and schools," added Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk in a statement.

Muldowney is a nine-year veteran of the police department and a former member of the Middlesex County Rapid Deployment Team. As school resource officer, Muldowney will perform in-classroom instruction and education regarding bullying, peer pressure, and prevalent crime trends; observe, assist, and critique mandated school safety drills; and investigate crimes and acts of delinquency involving juveniles as victims and as offenders.

School district officials said they’re pleased to enhance their collaborative relationship with the police department.

"The partnership between the Middlesex Police Department and the school district is critical as we strive to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for students," said Superintendent of Schools Roberta Freeman in a statement. "The addition of a School Resource Officer reflects our shared commitment to that mission and highlights the strong collaboration between the Borough of Middlesex and the school district."

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com , part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin . To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex Borough police are going back to school