Protect and Connect: Why We Need School Resource Officers

One day when I was an assistant principal at Salem Middle School, several parents were guests in the building. One pulled me aside and asked, “Why is there a cop here?”

I answered, “To help keep us safe. They are a big part of our overall safety plan.”

The parent said, “Are things that bad?”

“No,” I said. “They’re not bad at all. It’s good to have her here just in case, though.”

Of course, these are different times for schools. As has always been the case, safety is a priority. But Columbine changed the way schools must think about safety. School Resource Officer programs popped up all over the country after that terrible day. Having trained and armed personnel in schools was perhaps a sensible reaction to that event. The program has evolved into so much more than just protection, though.

Unfortunately, recent events in South Carolina have caused the national media to question whether police belong in schools at all. Ironically, after the Sandy Hook attack many people were calling for teachers to be trained and armed. Of course, the news story of the day often drives the national conversation.

I have seen the video, and honestly I found it disturbing. I also recognize it for what it is, and it worries me that somehow the actions of one officer are being generalized to all school-based police officers. In my mind, there’s no question they should be here, and that’s because of the experiences I have had with several SROs during my time in schools, and because of my understanding of the expectations of those officers who are entrusted to work in schools.

As my experience has grown over the years, my answer to the parent who asked “Why is there a cop here?” has also grown. I see the SRO as having two major functions in schools.

The first is to PROTECT in the following ways:

• Enforcing the law – though rare, there are times when police must be called on a legal matter

• Understanding and supervising procedural safeguards – officers work with schools to understand and properly implement our safe schools plans

• Providing security at events

• Providing gravitas when people behave (or are tempted to behave) badly – many who might be otherwise inclined to act foolishly are kept in check by the uniformed presence; and if not, the officer is there to show that person the door

The second is to CONNECT in the following ways:

• Speaking with young people about how they serve – most of the time, police officers would rather be helping out and getting to know the students

• Showing young people there’s more to a cop than just a badge and a gun

• Teaching students the law – SROs go into classrooms to teach the Virginia Rules; kids need to know the laws

• Teaching students how to handle challenging situations – SROs often help teach students appropriate and effective ways of handling difficult or heated situations, especially with peers

• Caring about the well-being of the staff and students – police officers connect with us and we connect with them; they want to keep us safe because they care

• Recognizing students for doing what’s right – Many SROs implement programs recognizing students for good citizenship

• Mentoring – Students who need an adult connection often find one in the SRO

• Providing extra-curricular opportunities – from Crime Solvers clubs to coaching sports, SROs often serve the whole school program

• Connecting with families that need help – SROs provide resources for families that have needs, from transportation to protection in domestic situations

• Providing access to resources – SROs are often more familiar with civil and other community resources available to families, and are able to facilitate connecting families to them.

They also do so many things that aren’t in the job description from giving rides home to walkers when it’s raining, bringing parents to school for meetings when they don’t have transportation, working with special needs students, supporting charitable efforts, providing counseling and conflict mediation, and more.

One officer acting inappropriately in an isolated situation cannot be allowed to serve as the brush used to paint all officers. As a principal, and as a dad, I know the police officers working in my children’s schools are there to care for, connect with, and protect my children. I don’t know why any parent or educator wouldn’t want that.