ADAMS TWP — A police force serving the Mars School District became a reality Wednesday.

Judge William Shaffer approved the creation of the department and agreement between the district and Adams Township.

The deal provides the school with two full-time officers from the township police department to be permanently stationed in district schools for a cost of $150,000 per school year. The officers will be trained and hired by the department. They will rotate from a pool of four officers.

Three retired State Police officers will supplement the Adams patrolmen. They will be employed by the district and granted the same powers as any municipal police officer, according to the petition filed with the court by district Solicitor Thomas King.

According to a petition, the district “believes that the safety and security of its students and employees will best be served by” the plan.

The school board signed the agreement at a special meeting May 2. Township supervisors followed suit on Monday.

The agreement begins July 1 and continues for one year, with discussions on continuing it occurring in early 2020.