A certified law
enforcement officer who is permanently
assigned to provide coverage to a
school or a set of schools. The SRO is
specifically trained to perform three
roles: law enforcement officer;
law-related counselor; and law-related
education teacher. The SRO is not
necessarily a DARE officer (although
many have received such training),
security guard, or officer who has
been placed temporarily in a school in
response to a crisis situation but
rather acts as a comprehensive
resource for his/her school.
In partnership with the D.C.
Everest Area School District
|
Within our society, the school holds a
central place among agencies which affect
the ideas and activities of children.
Beyond the family, they are
the first
institution which has the opportunity to
perceive and analyze the problems of
children.
It is logical, therefore, that
if outward symptoms of
anti-social
behavior (delinquency) are discernable
at
the school level, then it is appropriate
to implement a program aimed primarily at
prevention of this behavior through
education, communication, and understanding between the school/youth/police and the community
(i.e., Police School Resource Officer
Program).
The concept of the Police School
Resource Officer Program may be defined
within several areas. He/She is visualized
as a counselor, referral agent, and
educational aide, in addition to being a
law enforcement officer, who by definition
has an obligation to serve, protect, and
uphold the law.
In the performance of the
first role, it is felt by police,
students, and educators alike that the
resource officer should fulfill an
important task as a resident friend,
counselor, and listener to youth with
personal problems which they could bring
to him/her. This role is not carried out
in competition with the authorized
guidance counselors in the school.
Everything should be done in close
cooperation with them.
The second role is that of being a
referral agent. The Police School Resource
Officer should be intimately acquainted
with the kinds of help that are available
on the local level to young people and
their families. A major part of his/her
helping function would be to get people in
contact with helping agencies that can aid
them in matters which are beyond the
Police School Resource Officer's depth to
solve. Frequently, this will involve a
"shared client" relationship with the
school counselor.
 In his/her third role, the Police
School Resource Officer may serve an
educational function by assisting in the
provision of courses of study designed to
acquaint students with the law, the ways
in which it operates on the local/state
level, and how it touches their lives.
The fourth role is that of a law
enforcement officer. In this role, the
officer would ensure the safety of the
students, staff, and visitors in the
schools and would uphold the law.
For questions or concerns regarding the
program contact School Resource Officer's
Dave Sabel or Frank Wierzbanowski at
359-4202.
| 
