School Resource Officers
The School Resource Officer Program Mission:
School Resource Officers are committed to positively impacting the youth of Southlake by ensuring a safe school environment and investing in the lives of students, parents and staff.
The School Resource Officer Program Vision:
The School Resource Officers will accomplish this mission with education and by building lasting relationships which will result in community policing and crime prevention partnerships between the Police Department and citizens for many years to come.
History of School Resource Officer Program Nationwide:
The first School Resource Officer was placed into the school in Flint, Michigan in the 1950s. Since then, school violence and the focus on community policing has led to the program expanding nationwide.
On December 14, 2012 the nation suffered a terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. On that day a deranged gunman forced his way into the elementary school and proceeded to open fire with an assault weapon targeting students and staff. The carnage he left behind caused every community to re-examine security measures at all school campuses.
In response to this national tragedy, City of Southlake Mayor John Terrell commissioned a task force to examine and discuss all issues impacting the safety and security of children enrolled in Southlake schools. Members of the task force included representatives from the City of Southlake (Councilmembers, City Manager, and the Police Department) Carroll Independent School District (School Board and Administration), federal government, local clergy, private business, and private citizens. One of the results generated from the venture included significantly augmenting the existing Southlake Police Department School Resource Officer Program.
The partnership between the City of Southlake and Carroll ISD began in 1989 when the first DARE officer began teaching in the elementary schools. As the Carroll Independent School District grew and the relationship between the City and the school district strengthened, officers were also placed at other secondary campuses. Staffing levels were decreased in 2005 due to budget considerations within the City and CISD.
From 2005-2013, the program operated with three (3) School Resource Officers. These officers were assigned at Carroll Senior High School, Carroll High School, and an officer who divided time between Carroll Middle School and Dawson Middle School. These three officers also acted as points of contact for the elementary and intermediate school administrators in the city. However, they were not immediately available on campus.
As a result of the Mayor’s Task Force recommendations, School Resource Officer staffing levels will be increased to the following for the 2013-2014 school year:
Carroll Senior High (11-12) Officer Blas Hernandez
Carroll High School (9-10) Officer Allen Smith
Carroll Middle School (7-8) Officer Brett Wilson
Dawson Middle School (7-8) Officer Cory Rattan
Eubanks Intermediate (5-6) Officer Diron Hill
Durham Intermediate (5-6) Officer Matthew Petrie
Walnut Grove Elementary (K-4) Officer Frank LaGrassa
Rockenbaugh Elementary (K-4) Officer Art Litke
Old Union Elementary (K-4) Officer Richard Gallaway
Johnson Elementary (K-4) Officer Cheryl Womack
Carroll Elementary (K-4) Officer Robert Slusser
Sgt. John Stokes is the supervisor over the School Resource Officers. If you need addition information about the SRO program you can contact Sgt. Stokes at 817-748-8128
Duties and Objectives of School Resource Officers:
Some of the duties and objectives of SROs are outlined by the Memorandum of Understanding with CISD. In the March 19, 2013 council presentation the 3 identified goals of the SRO program include:
1) Enhance security on all CISD campuses and develop and maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff by:
• Limiting access to the school grounds to authorized persons
• Providing police protection of school property, personnel and students
As a law enforcement officer, the School Resource Officer responds to all types of offenses on campus, takes reports, makes arrests and investigates criminal offenses involving youth both on and off campus, acting as both the first responding investigator and an expert in juvenile law. This allows for a thorough investigation by officers most familiar with the needs of children in keeping with Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
2) Reduce community fear regarding child safety
Provide high visibility, including the presence of a marked police vehicle to maximize visibility and deter crime
3) Reduce likelihood of drug and alcohol use
Reduce juvenile crime through coaching with students about choices and the consequences of negative behavior
School Resource Officers enforce violations of the law only, and do not enforce school rules, nor is their presence used to “persuade” compliance.
The School Resource Officer builds relationships in several ways:
• Act as a liaison between the City and CISD to ensure cooperation and maximize this partnership
• Strive to build relationships with the community as a whole. School Resource Officers develop a relationship of trust and respect with students and families.
• Build relationships with the students and provide positive guidance for reaching their goals. Southlake’s School Resource Officer Program goal is to educate youth on the importance of good decision making. Southlake SRO’s meet with children of all ages and talk about decisions that could impact their future.
• Be an advocate for parents during interactions with at-risk students. Working alongside parents is a top priority to the School Resource Officers.
The School Resource Officer is a resource for faculty and staff in the area of crime prevention and development of security measures to “harden” campuses against crime. SROs are available to lead a discussion or teach topics in which the officer has special competence due to law enforcement training.
Each School Resource Officer is a trained presenter in the classroom. School Resource Officers are encouraged to attend the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Education and Standards (TCLEOSE) Police Instructor Training, which prepares officers for presenting in a classroom environment. This training focuses on lesson plan preparation with learning objectives. Carroll ISD is responsible for training School Resource Officers in the area of special needs children and in-service training which it provides to its teachers. Carroll ISD also provides all School Resource Officers with CPI training, BIP plans and ARD intervention plans for special needs children.
If you have questions or need additional information please feel free to contact us at (817) 748-8114.
