Acting Chief Robert W. Szala has assigned a new school resource officer to Dartmouth High School.

Officer Richard Pacheco officially began his new role on Dec. 22. Pacheco has been one of the police officers who filled in following Paul Arruda’s departure two weeks ago.

Pacheco is a 19-year veteran of the police department, and served in the Air National Guard for nine years.

“He’s on the police department team for peer support,” said Szala. “He’s been a mentor to everybody in the department. He volunteered for training in critical stress management to help our guys out when they have to deal with something. He likes to help out.”

Pacheco has also worked as a field training officer. After a new recruit is hired by the Dartmouth Police Department, he or she enters field training, which includes agency-specific training.

Szala believes Pacheco’s extensive background in peer-to-peer relationship building and serving as a mentor within the department will make him a good fit for Dartmouth High.

“He has roots in town. He’s vested in the town. He’ll do a great job,” he said.

When the job was posted for the position, Szala had planned for the new resource officer to enroll in specialized training in March. However, there was a participant who had to drop out of the January session, so Pacheco will begin training on Jan. 11 in Pennsylvania.

Principal John Gould said Pacheco will be a nice addition to the high school community.

“He seems to fit right in. I’m excited to welcome him here to Dartmouth High School,” said Gould.

Last week, parents communicating in a private Facebook group, had questioned the nature of Arruda’s departure. Over Facebook, parents had aired their concerns that this change was the result of a disagreement between Arruda and Gould regarding how doors should be secured. As such, it raised concerns about security at the school.

Szala said Arruda’s reassignment was a mutually agreed upon personnel change between Arruda and the school administration, adding that there “were no disciplinary issues or misconduct issues on Arruda’s part.”

Superintendent Bonny Gifford, after receiving several emails from concerned parents, visited the school to assess security.

“For now – with the size of the school, the practices that are in place and the vigilance that I have observed many times during the morning and throughout the day – I’m very comfortable, and parents should be, too. There are no security concerns,” Gifford last week.

Following Arruda’s departure, the police department had an officer assigned at the school while the job search was ongoing.

With the new resource officer in place, Gould said he wants parents to know that he’s willing to address any security concerns.

“If parents have genuine concerns over security, I want them to feel free to make an appointment,” said Gould. “I’ll give them a tour of the school and let them know their child is safe here.”

The front doors are monitored by security, and visitors must sign in and wear a badge. Gould said the high school has a policy of trying to limit side door usage. In the past few years, security cameras have been added to the facility.