How to become A School Resource Officer

No child should be afraid to go to school. Developmentally competent and specially trained School Resource Officers sync their expertise on threat assessment, response, and interactions with the school they serve to provide safe learning environments built on trust and security.

• SRO
• School-Based Police Officer
• School Security Officer
• Safer Schools Officer
• Campus Resource Officer

What do School Resource Officers do?

A School Resource Officer would typically need to:

• Use proactive law enforcement on school premises to maintain a safe, secure, and orderly learning environment for students, staff and other stakeholders 
• Establish a sensitive, respectful, and trustworthy channel of communication with students, staff, and other stakeholders
• Serve as a positive role model to students; provide them with a balanced view of law enforcement 
• Attend parent, faculty, student, and other organisational meetings as per the school administration’s need to exchange relevant information and ideas
• Work with the school administration in the investigation and due process of serious disciplinary incidents
• Investigate criminal activity committed on or adjacent to school district property; remain highly visible on school premises to discourage misconduct
• Make arrests and provide emergency response on school premises
• Create multidisciplinary BITs (Behavioural Intervention Teams) that support students, staff and faculty
• Support the school administration in resolving truancy issues, criminal activities, and disruptions on school property
• Alert school administration and appropriate law enforcement agencies of potential problems in the school and community
• Help other law enforcement officers with external investigations related to students in the school system
• Liaise between the school district and local law enforcement and social service agencies
• Assist district administration in the investigation of labour compensation cases and complaints against staff
• Facilitate fingerprinting and background checks of potential, new and current employees of the district administration, as required
• Safeguard school board property and staff, students, and other stakeholders while on school board property
• Observe, assess, and report on traffic around the school; patrol school parking lots to ensure the safety of staff and students arriving on and leaving the premises
• Help procure school parking permits and vehicle stickers/passes for all employees
• Coordinate with the district facility safety advisor to map out emergency routes, drills and waiting areas used during emergencies
• Monitor security cameras and conduct ongoing security checks of all school facilities; make suitable recommendations to the school administration
• Prepare and conduct customised educational and interventional programmes on school-administration-approved issues such as bullying, security, crime prevention, drug/alcohol resistance, citizenship, and community responsibility
• Coordinate with and seek the guidance and permission of law enforcement officials, local organisations, and school administration before implementing a programme or distributing pamphlets/brochures/handouts within the school
• Make approved use of other officers and individuals in the criminal justice field to fill in gaps in instruction
• Dispense informal counselling to the students or refer them to community agencies, such as mental health clinics, substance abuse treatment centres, child protective services, domestic violence services, and juvenile authorities
• Identify their problems and offer crisis intervention to students in stressful situations; ensure student arguments do not devolve into altercations
• Educate students on law enforcement efforts and duties and consequences for illegal acts to help them become better informed and responsible citizens
• Train the school staff on when and how to intervene with students; advise and educate on emergency planning, prevention, and response
• Maintain accurate and legible records and reports; keep all information concerning identity and actions taken in strict confidence and per standard laws
• Testify in Board of Education hearings, court, and other legal proceedings

Full-time or part-time School Resource Officers spend a significant part of their work day in and around the school premises. 

They may need to attend away events if requested by the school administration or re-assigned to other interim duties during school holidays, vacations, or police emergencies. Appearances in court may also be necessary from time to time.

In addition to wearing a prescribed uniform, SROs usually carry arms and restraints, such as handcuffs.

As a rule, SROs work during school hours but for those days when the school holds significant evening events such as athletic competitions, dances, and graduation exercises.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. School Resource Officers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, and using job search platforms.

School Resource Officers are generally employed by:

• Law Enforcement Agencies
• School Districts
• School Systems
• Support Services and Special Projects

Professional associations and organisations, such as The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), are crucial for School Resource Officers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Physical exhaustion from the need to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or regularly crawl during the workday
• High possibility of lifting and moving up to 10 pounds frequently, and up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Specific abilities, such as close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, are essential to carry out the job
• Negative public perception of the job as a result of insufficient research that shows an increase in suspensions, expulsions, and arrests due to the presence of SROs in schools
• Qualitative bias from non-representative case studies, observations, and interviews of SROs’ beliefs and attitudes about their roles
• Uncertainty over the future of SRO programmes in the face of a lack of clarity over the definition of a safe school

After completing crucial training that qualifies you as a commissioned law enforcement officer, you may need to acquire at least three years of law enforcement-related experience and complete customised School Resource Officer training before being assigned to an SRO position.

The police training programme includes search and seizure, criminal statutes, traffic laws, firearms training, driver training, and physical conditioning.

The specialised SRO training covers school-based law enforcement. It may focus on prevention, early intervention, diversion, adolescent and developmental psychology, cyber safety, and substance abuse. 

Attendees may also learn about critical national youth violence crime and disorder issues and programmes. They will gain experience communicating viable ideas and concepts across various stakeholders, particularly in the academic field and developing and delivering training to diverse audiences.

Role-playing, scenario-based instruction, and field training help participants in the SRO training obtain hands-on experience. They will benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. 

The students may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when the latter turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

A background in criminal justice may help gain familiarity with youth, social issues, city, county, state, and federal laws, the court system, and the presentation of evidence in court proceedings. Additional experience working in a military or an educational setting will also come in handy.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in school law enforcement to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Become a sworn career law enforcement officer by applying to a law enforcement agency for employment.

Although a high school diploma or GED is the minimum formal academic requirement, many law enforcement organisations now prefer applicants with a bachelor’s/associate degree in law enforcement, a certificate in criminal justice or criminology, or a specific number of postsecondary education credits.

Eligible candidates must pass an entrance exam, which differs across jurisdictions and police training colleges, to gain admission to a reputed police academy where they undergo intensive training for around six months.

Candidates who volunteer as SROs and are deemed eligible will undergo a comprehensive training programme that may combine classroom-based training, online distance learning, and orientation to the educational mission and school policies.

Your high school plan focuses on physical education, psychology, foreign languages, and the humanities. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help increase your chances of advancement and allow you to become an independent consultant.

In addition to a certification in advanced training in a school setting from their police academy, prospective School Resource Officers may need to invest at least 40 hours in an SRO Basic Course from their local Department of Education. Certification in first aid and CPR is a must.

A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region. Successful certification programmes protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

You may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of School Resource Officers who must go beyond the standard image of “a cop in the shop.” 

Continue to build and maintain a tangible measure of trust with the students, staff, parents and other school system stakeholders so you can justify your oft under-appreciated role in ensuring that the students who need it get the right kind of help without delay. 

Often, communities that wish to guarantee safe, secure, and orderly schools seek to defray the costs of full-time SROs by encouraging them to become Trainers who can hold local training conferences and partner with other communities to execute the training.

Experienced SROs may take on the additional responsibilities of training recruits and educating the general public and other schools in the neighbourhood on law-enforcement-related subjects.

Candidates with a postsecondary degree in a related field, military experience, and speaking more than one language have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active School Resource Officer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

As a professional committed to working with youth in a dynamic school environment, stay abreast of current police practices and procedures used in security supervision, crime investigation, and the identification and presentation of physical evidence. 

Take advantage of regular in-service refresher programmes on issues related to adolescent psychology, positive school discipline, and mental health referrals on offer from the local Department of Justice, technical colleges, and private, professional organisations focused on mental health and juvenile justice.

Reach out to peers across other school districts to compare notes and share lessons learned. Gain specialised training on mental illness and mental health issues so you can effectively recognise and intervene in case of a crisis and reduce referrals of at-risk youth to the juvenile courts.

Increased knowledge about topics, such as adolescent physical and social development and developmentally appropriate behaviour, unconscious individual bias and its impact, the causes and implications of trauma, use of validated communication and behavioural techniques, and implementation of controlled responses will help SROs respond to misbehaviour and offences fairly and impartially.

Other areas of equal importance include training in bullying, positive school discipline, substance abuse, truancy, dropout prevention, school crisis planning, and cultural competence.

On The Mark

A prospective SRO must be a bonafide citizen of the country they wish to be employed in, have a valid driver’s licence and be at least 18 to 21 years old. They will need a clean criminal record with no disciplinary actions or complaints involving youth, although minor offences may get a pass in some locations.

In It For The Long Haul

Remember that school security is not every law enforcement officer’s cup of tea. Only if you have patience, practical communication skills, an even temper, diplomacy and tact and the ability to meditate on fights and arguments, should you volunteer to be an SRO who fosters confidence among law enforcement, educators, and youth, prevents and responds to school-based crime, and promotes a positive school climate.

What Does It Mean To You?

Diverse, often conflicting ways in which communities define a ‘safe school’ according to their notion of safety.  Is it one that has few or no violent incidents or one that comes with bulletproof glass and metal detectors, or the one that values solid and warm relationships among faculty and students?

Draw A Line

There are a few boundaries an SRO should not cross, come what may. They will not make students and staff a captive audience for routine police investigations and nonessential interviews that may disrupt the learning environment.

You will report any violations of school discipline policy to the appropriate person but not act as the token disciplinarian. Remain visible without seeming like you’re breathing down the necks of the students.

Standard searches and locker checks which may be deemed intrusive should follow probable cause or search warrant. Only emergencies warrant the transportation of a sick or injured child for medical assistance by an SRO.

Notify the appropriate agencies and initiate a report in the event of knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect a child of being abused or neglected. Do not act as an alcohol detention agent or monitor school entrances.

Searches, confiscating persons and property, securing evidence and contraband, and arrests must comply with local laws. Cease a foot or vehicle pursuit if it continues beyond the school district property, except if you think it signals a threat to the school’s safety.

SROs can play a critical role in educating students about school rules to help prevent behavioural problems and delinquent acts.

Ongoing research on school discipline and classroom/behaviour management suggests proactive SROs bring about visible prevention and intervention in schools in their ‘triad’ role as educator, informal counsellor, and law enforcer.

You should be a moral and ethical role model for students. It is your sacred duty to protect and serve in a way that earns the trust of your community.