Permanent full-time positions within the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department officially start Tuesday for a patrol deputy and school resource officer in Baxter. Back in late April, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors accepted a 28E Agreement between the school district and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Brad Shutts says a federal grant will provide a total of $125,000 over three years towards the cost of the Baxter School Resource Officer.

“That will be $41,666 each year that the grant will provide. The Baxter Community School District will provide $45,000 the first year and then $2,500 increments over the next three after that.

The School Resource Officer agreement between the Baxter School District and the sheriff’s department ends on June 30th, 2029. The agreement for a full-time patrol officer goes until the end of June 2030. The City of Baxter will cover all the costs by paying Jasper County $130,416 for the first year. Baxter has also given the county the equipment used by the city’s prior police department. In the last year of the patrol contract, the City of Baxter’s annual cost will be $149,185.