School Resource Officers: Violence Prevention and Community Policing Par Excellence

Since the Columbine tragedy on April 20, 1999 I have had the opportunity to address those dedicated to violence prevention and character development throughout the nation. Along with administrators, teachers, counselors, threat assessment teams, security officials, school board members and community leaders, law enforcement officials have always been represented at these venues particularly through school resource officers (SROs). In my opinion, the SRO represents one of the most important school violence and community policing initiatives imaginable.

According to the SRO triad concept, the SRO serves the school community as a law enforcement officer, educator and counselor/problem solver.

Reprinted from the NJASRO Website

Role of the SRO

• Prevent Juvenile delinquency through close contact with students and school faculty.
• Establish liaison with school principal, faculty and students.
• Establish and maintain liaison between School Security Officers and other SROs assigned to the campus.
• Inform students of their rights and responsibilities as lawful citizens.
• Provide liaison between students and social agencies with respect to needed services.
• Act as a resource to the principal in investigating criminal law violations occurring in the school or on school property.
• Assist administration and faculty in formulating criminal justice programs.
• Formulate educational prevention programs to reduce opportunities for crime, violence, substance abuse, and other risk associated behaviors.
• Participate in parent, teacher, and student association meetings as requested.
• Participate in campus activites, student organizations, and athletic events when invited and feasible.
• Present a positive image of law enforcement in the eyes of the students and the community.

The SRO is a priceless component of school violence prevention and character education for our school communities. This initiative affords the opportunity not only for violence prevention, education and counseling but also promotes a positive image of law enforcement to our nation’s youth. A school should do everything possible to have an SRO program in its community.

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56th Inauguration Security Concerns

With new realities of violence existing in the world, America prepares for an inauguration of our new president on January 20, 2009 with security concerns demanding unprecedented collaboration among law enforcement agencies.

The inauguration has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a National Special Security Event. Under this designation, the United States Secret Service assumes the role as the lead federal agency relative to the design and implementation of the operational security plan. This role will be complimented by a collaborative unity of effort with the Washington, D.C. Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Park Police along with a number of federal and local agencies.

"It will be the most security, as far as I’m aware, that any inauguration had." — Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff

As a sign of his appreciation for history, President-elect Barack Obama travelled to Washington, D.C. by train from Philadelphia. Abraham Lincoln also traveled to his inauguration by train and was smuggled under cover of darkness from one train station due to concerns of an assassination attempt.

According to published reports, following are a few facts and figures about inauguration security:

• The Homeland Security Department says there is no credible threat of an attack but they are prepared for a wide range of potential catastrophes, including a chemical weapons attack.
• U. S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, a 25-year veteran, says Tuesday's inauguration is the biggest event he has been part of.
• About 4,000 city police officers will be deployed along with 4,000 from 96 other law enforcement agencies across the country.
• A total of 32,000 military personnel will be on duty or on standby.
• Security measures include intensified patrols of the skies over the capital and rivers bordering the city, closing bridges and sealing off a large area of downtown to vehicles.
• The Secret Service has unveiled a state-of-the-art armoured presidential limousine that Obama will use during his presidency. Its design is a closely guarded secret, but it is likely resistant to bomb and chemical attacks.
• Every one of the hundreds of thousands of people expected to pack the inaugural parade route between the White House and Capitol Hill will be subjected to security screening, as will the 240,000 people attending the swearing-in ceremony.

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