South Lake Tahoe Police Department

School Resource Officer (SRO)

School Resource Officers (SRO’s) and the School Community

Collaboration between Law Enforcement Officers and Schools is an important step in increasing school safety. The concept of having Law Enforcement Officers involved with schools stems from the practice of Community Policing. Community Policing utilizes the assistance of community members for identifying and prioritizing problems and developing solutions. The school community may involve the following: superintendents, administrators, principals and assistant principals; teachers and assistants; counselors, school nurses, school social workers and psychologists; bus drivers, custodians, maintenance and cafeteria personnel; students and parents. In a School Resource Officer program the members of the school community partner with the Law Enforcement Officer assigned to their school in order to create a setting that is safe and secure, with a focus on prevention and early intervention activities.

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of the School Resource Officer vary from school to school. A diverse range of duties can be incorporated into the SRO job description. Some functions served by the SRO include: law enforcement officer, public safety specialist, community liaison and problem solver, law-related educator, and positive role model.

1. Law Enforcement Officer - Although a less performed role, the SRO is still a law enforcement officer with the authority and duty to handle crimes and make arrests when necessary. It is important to differentiate between school code of conduct violations and crimes. SRO’s should not be involved in code of conduct violations, but should take the lead on criminal violations. Part of this role is also the responsibility to serve as a liaison between the school and the local police department.

2. Public Safety Specialist - The SRO should be aware of current research on effective strategies for increasing school safety, and assist the school in implementing research-based strategies. The SRO should be involved with discipline policies, school safety assessments, physical safety of the school, crisis and emergency management planning, crime prevention or intervention, and other safe school planning processes.

3. Community Liaison and Problem Solver - Many problems require change within or assistance from the community. The SRO should be aware of community resources and contacts that can be helpful in solving a problem. Some community resources of which the SRO should be aware include: mental health services, substance abuse assessment and treatment providers, child protective services, runaway shelters, domestic violence services, and family counseling agencies.

4. Law-Related Educator - Law-Related Education is designed to teach students the fundamentals and skills needed to become responsible citizens in a democracy. Law-Related Education teaches social competence, problem-solving skills, a sense of autonomy, and reinforces high expectations for youth and positive peer norms. This should be a fun and interesting class with field trips, community service projects, visits from juvenile justice representatives, classroom participation, and mock trials or public performances.

5. Positive Role Model - One of the most influential roles held by the SRO is that of being a positive role model to students. Students often seek approval, direction and guidance in informal interactions with an SRO that they trust. Some ways for the SRO to be a positive role model include: setting limits by being clear about what is acceptable and unacceptable; setting an example; being honest; being consistent with students, staff and parents; encouraging responsibility; and showing respect for students. The SRO should always try to maintain a professional appearance; be visible and accessible; take concerns seriously and follow through with commitments to take action; participate in and support school functions; maintain a relationship with students’ parents; and maintain a relationship with faculty and school administration.

Establishing Relationships

A critical aspect to the success of the School Resource Officer is the establishment of relationships with school staff and specialists, parents, and especially students. It is important for the SRO to be aware of the services being provided by school specialists such as Guidance Counselors, School Nurses, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, Speech Pathologists, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists. The SRO should establish collaborative working relationships with the specialists and with school staff. Parents are key players in the school community and should also be the focus of relationship building by the SRO. The SRO should attend PTA meetings, parent nights and conferences. It would also be useful for the SRO to create a brochure or fact sheet regarding the roles of the SRO; this could be distributed to parents, teachers, students and other community members. Without a doubt, the most important relationships for the SRO to cultivate are relationships with the students. Getting youth actively involved in the School Resource Officer program can help the SRO to build rapport with students; reduce stereotypes of police officers; provide opportunities for youth be involved in the improvement of their school; and promote crime and delinquency prevention.

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