As to why his officers sometimes get involved in incidents outside the district, Nielsen said, "We have a take-home car policy, and some of them live outside the district." He says they monitor calls, and may respond to assist other agencies.

A risk or value?

Granite district officials say they get their money's worth from their police department, but others are not so sure — and say operating a real police department creates too much financial risk for a school district.

Granite School District Superintendent Stephen F. Ronnenkamp said extra presence by the department has cut vandalism and theft so much through the years that it alone "has almost paid for the police department."

Nielsen estimates his force saves possibly $5 million a year in losses, based on the amount the district was losing before his department was formed. But, he acknowledges, such estimates are difficult to figure and prove. "How do you put a dollar amount on what you prevent?"

Ronnenkamp also says close police work with schools has thwarted several potential shootings, "and as an administrator, that is my worst nightmare." He adds that "certain pockets in Granite" have much higher crime rates than in areas in such districts as Jordan, and school police especially help there.

Granite Board of Education President Sarah Meier said, "I get glowing reports about the police. I do believe we save money with them. When I joined the board eight years ago, graffiti was a problem. They have cut that way back."

Still, Ronnenkamp and Meier say the worth of the police department is reviewed closely every year. "Because of shortage of funds, everything is on the list (of possible cuts) every year," Meier said.

But they both say the department has so far proven its worth and survived. It was cut back, however, by one officer last year to save money.

Jordan School District came to a different conclusion about its police department. The district eliminated its department last year, as tight budgets made it also look at losing teachers aides, and teachers losing pay for training.

"There is no other choice that we have," Jordan board member Lynette Phillips said at the time.

Board President Peggy Jo Kenneth also said at the time, "We are not leaving our schools unprotected or unsafe. We will have the same level of protection from local (law enforcement)."

Rep. Holdaway, a Granite teacher and member of legislative education committees, says three things have led him to investigate the worth of Granite's police department: the elimination by Jordan, the fact that Granite is the only school district in the state with a police department, and the competition for scarce education money.