Sacramento police will remove the department’s school resource officers from Natomas Unified campuses and reassign them to patrol beginning in January, district and city officials said. The change is tied to a staffing shortfall the city says requires redeploying officers back to general patrol. Natomas Unified said it has a transition plan that includes new on-campus safety positions while it recruits replacements.
District outlines replacement plan
Natomas Unified posted a message to families saying it was informed the district’s three‑year contract that provides three SROs will be terminated at the end of the calendar year. According to Natomas Unified, the district plans to create a School Safety Manager position at each high school and expand its roster of Campus Safety Specialists while it recruits for those roles. The statement says existing safety systems — including the district’s Safety and Safe Schools department and an anonymous reporting tool — will remain active during the transition.
Police say shortages drive reassignment
The Sacramento Police Department told local media the move responds to a significant officer shortage that requires shifting personnel back onto city streets. Coverage says the department will reassign the three SROs and a sergeant at Natomas and roughly a dozen officers assigned to Sacramento Regional Transit, freeing about 14 officers for patrol, and set the change to take effect January 2026, according to Sacramento Bee. City leaders framed the reassignments as a short‑term staffing step to ensure emergency response capacity across Sacramento.
Transit and backup plans
Sacramento Regional Transit plans to rely more on the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and contracted security while continuing to use the police department’s Real Time Information Center for 24/7 monitoring. As reported by CBS Sacramento, SacRT will supplement deputies with transit ambassadors and security guards as it adjusts staffing. Transit officials said they will coordinate with city and county law enforcement to maintain rider and staff safety during the transition.
Mixed reaction from parents and staff
Parents in Natomas offered mixed reactions, with some saying daily interactions with SROs build positive relationships and others welcoming a move toward district‑run safety staff and more mental‑health resources. Local reporting captured parents saying the change raises concerns about response times and the loss of officers who know campus routines, per Sacramento Bee.
How this fits locally
Natomas schools have faced security incidents in recent years — including hateful graffiti that drew a police investigation at two campuses earlier this year — so families and staff are closely watching any change to campus security. Local coverage and public records show other Sacramento‑area districts have also been rethinking school safety and the role of officers as they balance added counseling and on‑site security, according to KCRA and broader reporting.
Natomas Unified said it expects a smooth transition and is actively recruiting for School Safety Manager roles while increasing Campus Safety Specialists to maintain adult presence on campuses, according to Natomas Unified. The district asked families to report safety concerns through existing channels as hires are made. School leaders said current safety measures will remain in place while the hiring process moves forward.
