The Columbine High School shootings triggered calls for stronger policing presence in schools. Between and , more than 6, new SROs were deployed across the country. Department of Justice. SRO programs have not been without their critics. There are accusations that SROs have contributed to developing a school-to-jail pipeline. Viral videos tell a visceral and disturbing story. High-visibility use-of-force incidents involving students have also brought criticism. Students using cellphones against school rules, swearing at a teacher, having water balloon fights or throwing spitballs do not belong in handcuffs, police cars or courtrooms.
When SROs are pushed into the world of misbehavior, behavioral issues and minor infractions, the line between matters that call for police intervention and those that call for the action of an experienced educator is blurred. Student behavioral challenges have always been present in schools and should be managed with disciplinary measures by school staff.
Entering students into the juvenile justice system for such mistakes is to impose long-term consequences, increasing the likelihood that a child will end up in the juvenile justice system — and later, as a byproduct of these experiences, adult prisons.
Unlike a patrol officer who may respond to a street crime, an SRO needs to evaluate the totality of circumstances in a school setting, diverting youth away from the juvenile justice system whenever school-generated correction and discipline is an option. Educators and SROs should be partners in recognizing the root cause of recurrent disciplinary challenges and finding the proper response for each student.
It is incumbent upon SROs to recognize the difference between disciplinary infractions and criminal behavior. This places the onus on police departments to ensure that the mission and duties of SROs are clearly outlined in memorandums of understanding.
This additional role adds SROs to the process of developing safety plans and strategies linking school administrators with local first responders. SROs are among the most visible and accessible police officers in a community.
This fact alone means they steward an important responsibility. As the liaison between the police department and community, the impression an SRO leaves with students will influence how members of the community perceive police officers in a more general sense.
Building relationships, reinforcing positive behaviors, and connecting youth with needed resources are key for a successful SRO program. A recurring theme in debates over SROs involves training. In June , the NBC Today show highlighted several incidents caught on camera in which police officers used excessive force against children as young as 6. Unfortunately, a string of disturbing events involving SROs undermines the value of the program and the role of SROs as a positive presence in school communities.
These organizations have called for more training, stricter standards for the selection of SROs, the inclusion of school principals in the assignment process and annual evaluations that consider disproportionate rates of enforcement by race, gender and ability National Association for Secondary School Principals, August While there has been some discussion in select school districts and political circles about eliminating SROs, that remains highly unlikely.
Creating defined standards for training and clearly outlining the mission and role of SROs in the school environment is critical.
Being an SRO today is more than a transfer from patrol to a school. Success will require a change in policing mentality and knowledge of rules and laws that govern school policing.
Search and seizure, free speech, Miranda and interacting with adolescent behaviors are considerably different in a school setting as compared to general police work.
Parent interaction, partnering with counselors and teachers, class presentations, and de-escalation require ongoing and expansive training for SROs to be successful. Robert Spinks is the chief of police in Parsons, Kansas. Community policing information can be downloaded from parsonspd. As seen in the August issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Beyond law enforcement, SROs also serve as educators, emergency managers, and informal counselors. While an SRO's primary responsibility is law enforcement, whenever possible, SROs should strive to employ non-punitive techniques when interacting with students.
Arrests should be used only as a last resort under specified circumstances. Policy Guidance Implementation Guidance. The Averted School Violence ASV reporting system enables SROs and other law enforcement officers, school personnel and mental health professionals to share their stories and lessons learned, in order to improve school safety and help prevent future tragedies.
The COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur.
Career days or discussions, talking about military time or presenting a lesson on local government and civil servants are other opportunities that an SRO can become part of the classroom. Throughout the year, various student recognition assemblies are held providing opportunities for the SRO to interact with students and parents.
At the middle school and high school levels, I am often asked to present in nearly all content area classrooms.
Health classes provide the biggest opportunities for interaction with students at these grade levels. Science classes are great for crime scene discussions including DNA, blood and evidence collection techniques.
English classes are great environments for discussing report writing skills, public speaking, and being a responsible online citizen when it comes to social media and emails. The high school principal also allows me to participate in a building-wide assembly on the first day of school to share a brief reminder on sexting laws and potential criminal issues students could face throughout their school career.
During the summer months, I participate in various events for both the school and the police department. The Ohio State University, through the county extension office, allows me to present during 4-H camp week a drug awareness program.
Those attending the camp are typically leaders in their respective schools and they represent nearly all of the county districts.
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