Who is the School Resource Officer?
by Marshall Neal
November 10, 2009
Who is the School Resource Officer?
The SRO is the one assigned to a school, not for his or her abilities with a service weapon, but for the ability to compassionately interact with adults and kids as a teacher, liaison and police officer.
The SRO is the one who answers to the needs of his or her police supervisor and the school principal, even when they may be at odds with each other.
The SRO is the only “traffic cop” that knows buses, teachers, parents, and students get priority above all others when entering the school parking lot.
The SRO is sometimes a “police taxi” that provides a ride to the student who will be late again, if not for his shuttle service.
The SRO is the one who seeks out those kids in school, who are the most picked on and overlooked, so he can be the first to greet them, talk to them, and become their friend.
In some cases, the SRO may even be the only adult who is a positive influence in their life.
The SRO is the daily presence of a uniform, badge, and gun, who will confront and deter any who dare interrupt the safety and security of the school and makes community oriented policing a way of life every day.
The SRO is quick to back up patrol at an accident, or other incident especially when he fears one of his students may be involved.
The SRO is a buffer and mediator to the principal who has tried everything to console that irate parent
The SRO is also the ever-present narcotics detective, abuse counselor, and criminal enforcer.
The SRO is the one who is rarely in his office to answer phone calls because he or she is in the school doing all those things that are not necessarily in his job description but make him more effective in his role
The SRO is tough enough to shout the words a kid needs to hear when they are slipping away into drugs or gangs,
…and soft enough to shed a tear when the same kid walks across the stage at graduation.
The SRO is the one who is often looked at as not being a “real cop” by his fellow officers…
…and not a “real instructor” by some teachers, but knows he must try to be both.
The SRO is the one who takes the call from the single parent who has tried desperately to get her son up for school, he assures her he will be there to remind him why, and then takes him to school.
The SRO is the one in the station explaining the process to parents when their child has been arrested; because he or she is their child’s SRO and they trust him.
Who is an SRO, the SRO is the “Blue Knight” standing for the rights of students, teachers and staff.
The SRO is the one who would give his life to protect the safety of those in the “castle” and does all this because of his commitment to his community and his love of kids.
