The Why and How of School Resource Officers

By Mike Raymond

School resource officers are trained police officers. Many times, officers are the first people you see when entering a school, and they are respected within their police agency as well. School resource officers (SROs) have the potential to create large networks, both inside and outside of the schools.

It is important that both the school district and the police agency work hand-in-hand when recruiting for an officer. The school district understands the personality type that an officer must have in order to be successful, while the police agency can determine a good applicant based on any training or special accomplishments the officer has received. SROs need specific training and communication skills to properly handle emergency situations in schools.

A typical day for an SRO, which could entail anything from teaching a class on good citizenship to confiscating a loaded gun from a student, is different from what a regular police officer will experience. School resource officers create bonds with students and become role models who students can learn from, confide in, and most importantly feel safe with in any situation. This bond is built by presenting helpful information in classrooms, guiding students in good decision-making, and being there when students need a listening ear.

The SRO is also the first line of defense against any threat that could potentially occur on school property. Beyond keeping peace and order in the hallways and at every school function, SROs also need to act as building engineers because a crucial understanding of each building’s layout can be extremely helpful in emergencies.

They also become heroes, mentors, and educators.

A common misconception about being an SRO is that it is an easy day job. This is far from the truth.

A good SRO is someone who is invested in not only their career but also the school district and community as a whole. Some officers attend community events or school events as a “regular” person, without uniform, in order to build on the connections they have with the students and the families. When an SRO has a strong relationship with the community, children feel much safer at school. This is vital because once kids graduate and move onto the next phase of their lives, they have reliable contact whenever they need police assistance. 

The main advantage of having an SRO in a school building is the relationships the officer builds with students and staff. Seeing a friendly and familiar face in the halls each day creates a sense of trust between the officer and the students. It is important for the SRO to engage this trust and train students and staff on being prepared in an emergency. Training on what to do in an emergency situation is important at all levels, from kindergarten to high school seniors.

Triad CUSD 2 instructs the “A.L.I.C.E” model for an active shooter, in which elementary students learn about the Sheep (them), the Shepard (teacher), and the Wolf (bad guy). Older students learn and know how to counter if needed. Triad provides safety backpacks in every classroom and throughout the buildings and trains staff and students on how to use the medical equipment for emergencies, including but not exclusive to an active shooter. Emergency situations are inevitable and SROs focus on making sure everyone is prepared and not scared.

The importance of a school resource officer is quickly seen and understood by the community, but the largest hurdle is funding. The cost of having an SRO varies by police department due to factors including the number of days an SRO works, hourly rate, department insurance cost, and initial training.

In order to show the cost in real numbers, we will use a base hourly rate of $30 along with an officer working 180 school days. Because the SRO arrives prior to the start of a school day and leaves after students have safely left, they work an eight-hour day. Even on half days, SROs will remain on campus in the event there are any students who did not make it home, or to work on one of many safety initiatives. With that baseline, the annual rate of an SRO would be $43,200. Department insurance, which we estimate at $600 per month (or $30 per working day), adds $5,400. This brings the total to $48,600 for this officer, which is similar to a fifth-year teacher with a master’s degree. The only other initial cost would be the certification of an SRO through the National Association of School Resource Officers with a one-time fee of $445. 

When working on the district’s budget, it is key to know where the revenue comes from and how to record the cost of a school resource officer. The Tort Fund is created for taxes levied or bonds sold for tort immunity or tort judgment purposes. Yearly, the district levies funds to receive towards the Tort Fund; these funds will help offset the cost of the SRO.

Once you receive proper funding, keep in mind that receiving the services from the department providing the SRO is considered a purchase service. In order to ensure the ability to spend 100% of the cost from the Tort Fund, the district must have a Risk Management Plan in place outlining how the SRO maintains and continues to improve the safety of the students, staff, and facilities.

A district looking to get the school resource officer program up and running should begin the conversations with the local law enforcement department to ensure it has willing candidates and will not incur any financial downfalls. In addition, speak with other districts who have had success with their school safety programs.

We are all here to educate the youth in the safest way possible.

Mike Raymond is Director of Business and Communication for Triad CUSD 2 in Troy.