School Resource Officers

 School Resource Officers:

School Resource Officers (SRO's) have been in existence since 1953, when Flint, Michigan provided the first documented SRO to their community.   Today local police departments and sheriffs employ an estimated 20,000 full time School Resource Officers.   A School Resource Officer  is a sworn officer or deputy responsible for providing security and crime prevention service in the school environment.   Officers and deputies serve as role models, counselors, and mentors building relationships between law enforcement and youths.   They also educate kids on topics such as bullying, Internet safety, conflict resolution, and anger management.   Their primary responsibility , though, is the safety of our children.

The presence of an SRO can act as a deterrent to crime.   Students often pass tips to. and confide in officers if someone brings something on campus that is not allowed or if they hear something might happen.   School Resource Officers can and do make arrests.

Most local arrests stem from disruption of a school function, such as by fighting or violation of probation.   Statewide in Florida assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and misdemeanor drug violations represent more than half of school related delinquency arrests according to a Juvenile Justice Report. 

Critics of School Resource Officer programs say they send the wrong message and create an atmosphere that leads to an increase in juveniles being introduced to the criminal justice system.   Supports for the programs is meeting resistance by those who feel schools need to be focused on education and not police actions.  Some point to data that shows administrative measures in non SRO schools can contribute to lower crime rates.  Some studies indicate that SRO's make arrests for  matters that should be handled through school disciplinary channels and should not have escalated to the level of criminal charges being filed in criminal court.

Here in St. Lucie County, Florida we have 4 officers and 1 civilian provided by the Port St. Lucie Police Department and 25 deputies provided by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.  The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice reports that for the 2011 - 12 year there were 379 arrests on St. Lucie County Schools grounds, school buses, bus stops or at school events.   That is a rate of 18 arrests for each 1,000 students.   It is considered a high rate, higher than the 10 per 1,000 state average.  

The year with the highest number of arrests was 2005 - 06 with 662 arrests.  The last three years have been trending downward with rates of 30, 21, 18 respectively.   Law enforcement officials at least partially credit the presence of  officers for the decline.

So, there you have it.  Are School Resource Officers an asset to our schools and communities?  You decide.