Montville Police Schools Resource Officer Karen Moorehead has been removed from the schools and reassigned to patrol, it was confirmed Wednesday.
Resident State Trooper Sgt. Martin ‘Marty’ Martinez, who reassigned Moorehead, said the move was made “based on department needs.”
School Superintendent Pamela W. Aubin said she was told Dec. 21 that Moorehead was being reassigned.
“Any questions with regard to this decision should be directed to Officer Martinez,” Aubin said and added “student and staff safety remains a priority for the Montville Public Schools.” She said the SRO position at MHS “will be maintained.”
For now, that officer will be Robert Bedard who has been working at Leonard J. Tyl Middle School of late.
Aubin said she was “assured that other officers will be assigned to provide assistance to Tyl Middle School and the elementary schools, as needed by Lt. (Leonard) Bunnell.”
Martinez said "there's no security issue here."
"As far as security, we're still status quo," he said. "Kids and parents don't need to worry."
Moorehead filed a sexual and workplace harassment complaint against Bunnell last year and while the
Moorehead was the subject of a Montville Patch story about her work at the high school last fall. That story led to a request from a national magazine to feature Moorehead in an article about school safety. The story featured a video of Moorehead interacting with students. Moorehead had been the SRO for two years and was previously the DARE officer and worked with kids in Kindergarten through 7th grade.
Patch was not able to reach Moorehead for comment on the reassignment.
