School Resource Officer
Randy Roman
School Resource Officer
350 Mountain Road
Suffield, CT 06078
What is a School Resource Officer?
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.
The main goals of the School Resource Officer program are:
- Reduced juvenile delinquency through close personal contact with students on a daily basis.
- Bridge the gap between police officers and young people and increase positive attitudes toward law enforcement.
- Teach the value of our legal system.
- Promote respect for people and property.
- Reduce juvenile crime by helping students formulate an awareness of the rules, authority and justice.
- To take a personal interest in students and their activities.
- To allow students access to the legal system.
- To give students a realistic picture of our laws and legal system so they will have an investment in supporting and improving it.
- Teach students how to avoid becoming a victim through self awareness and crime prevention.
What are the duties of School Resource Officer?
They are visible, active law enforcement figure on campus dealing with any law-related issues. The SRO is a classroom resource for instruction in the law related education, violence diffusion, safety programs, alcohol and drug prevention, crime prevention and other areas. They are a member of the faculty and administrative team working hand in hand to solve problems in the school community.
They serve as a resource for the students which will enable students to be associated with a law enforcement figure in the student's environment. They serve as a resource to teachers, parents, and students for conferences on an individual basis, dealing with individual problems or questions. Also, they can serve as a counseling resource in areas which may affect the educational environment, but may be of a law related nature. The SRO is also a liaison between the police department and helps provide community oriented policing services for the high school and the surrounding community.
Every school day
- at least 100,000 students bring guns to school.
- 160,000 students skip classes because they fear physical harm.
- 40 students are hurt or killed by firearms.
- 6,250 teachers are threatened with bodily injury.
- 260 teachers are physically assaulted.