Volunteers to patrol north Colorado schools

Volunteer reserve sheriff’s deputies will begin patrolling elementary schools in Larimer County starting in late April.

Larimer County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jennifer Hillmann says the Thompson School District Marshal Program is being implemented following parents’ concerns about elementary school safety prompted by the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. After the shooting, Hillmann says many parents offered to volunteer for armed patrols at local elementary schools.

Armed school resource officers will still patrol middle schools and high schools. Larimer County’s 25 reserve deputies will patrol at participating elementary schools in the Thompson School District.

The sheriff’s office will hold two community meetings next week in Berthoud and Fort Collins to explain details to parents.