Overview of the Ohio School Resource Officer
(SRO) Program
- Presented by the Ohio School Resource Officers Association
www.osroa.org
SRO HISTORY
1958: Flint, MI
1963: Tucson,
Az
1966: Saginaw, MI
1968: Los
Angeles
1970: Florida
and North Carolina
1990: Virginia
1997: OSROA
1967: Cinci, OH
SRO HISTORY 1950’s – Flint, Michigan
Goal: to improve police and youth relations 1967 - Cincinnati
Goal: to increase classroom contacts 1969/70 – Florida and North Carolina
Goal: to bridge the gap between police and youth Goal: to increase positive attitudes toward law
enforcement Goal: to reduce juvenile crime
Student Crime Causes: Peer Pressure Racism Family – Financial and Personal Stress Lack of Opportunities and Positive
Role Models Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol Easy Access to Weapons Lack of Support Networks Among
Family, Friends, and Neighbors
SRO - TRIAD ConceptLaw Enforcement Officer
EducatorCounselor
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Credible form of authority Full law enforcement authority
Arrest Deterrent to crime related activities Provides safety and security Investigates criminal activity on/adjacent to the
campus Thefts Drugs Assaults
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Primary contact for juvenile offenders & victims
Develops intelligence information Individualized police services Truancy Crime prevention
Safety & security Crisis planning
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The campus is the officer’s beat Faculty, staff, and students are “the
citizens” served by the SRO
EDUCATOR Educate Faculty & Staff
Legal issues Police procedures Crime prevention
Personal safety Workplace violence
EDUCATOR Educate Faculty & Staff (cont.)
Classroom presentations Emergency response Current trends
Drugs Community issues
EDUCATOR Educate Students
Role of the SRO/law enforcement Police procedures Criminal law & legal issues Juvenile laws & juvenile justice
system Personal & school safety issues Citizenship issues
EDUCATOR Educate Parents
Legal issues Police procedures Youth issues Drugs & alcohol Emergency response plans School related safety issues
Bus safety Child exploitation
EDUCATOR Educate Community
Role of the SRO Community Policing Develop community partnerships Community liaison
COUNSELOR Intervention Sounding board Listener Establish rapport Helper Identifying and clarifying problem
situations Personal, family, peers
SRO - Specific Roles/ Goals Bridge the gap between police
officers and kids Increase positive attitude toward
law enforcement Reduce juvenile crime through
counseling, teaching, personal interest
Act as positive role model, liaison, resource
SRO - Specific Roles/ Goals Visible and accessible Interact positively with students
and school community Participate and support school
functions Maintain relationships with
parents, school administration
OSROA Basic Training Curriculum (Five days) Safety & Security Problem Solving Liaison Enforcement Advocacy Mentor Advisor Instructor
Public Speaking Time Management Ohio School Law Students with Special
Needs Lesson Plans Learning Styles Crisis Management
Partnerships & Resources
Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police Ohio Crime Prevention Association D.A.R.E. Ohio Ohio Department of Public Safety Ohio Center for Law Related Education Ohio Attorney General’s Office Ohio Department of Education Local Parks and Recreation Local Fire Department Local, County, and State Government Officials County Health and Human Services Agencies Social Service Agencies Service Clubs
Current Issues Critical Incident/Safety Plans for
Schools Community Policing / Government Computer Crimes / Internet Gangs in Schools Homeland Security/ School
Terrorism Threat Assessment Tobacco Issues Missing and Exploited Children Substance Abuse Family Violence / Gun Violence Binge Drinking
Potential causes for school crisis’s
Disgruntled Parents Student Fights Angry Bus Drivers Weapons in School Fires Power Outages Suicide Food Poisoning Gas Leak Abused Youth Bus Accident Rape Abductions Accidental death Evacuation Panic Epidemic Cult Activity Drive By Shooting
Playground Accident Abused Youth Labor unrest Ethnic disturbance Snow emergency Hostage situation Alarms Drunk staff or students Internet threats Food fight Student uprising Allergic reaction Hazing Heat Alert Trespassers Workplace Violence Rumors Terrorism
Ohio School Resource Officers Association (OSROA)
6277 Riverside Drive, 2NDublin, Ohio 43017Phone - (614) 718-0290Fax - (614) 761-
9509www.osroa.org
Kari B. Parsons, MBAExecutive [email protected]