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The School Resource Officer (SRO) program is a component in the Community
Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) philosophy. The SRO is a resource
used by the community and the schools. The SRO addresses situations in the lives
of students in a forum other than the justice system.
The SRO is a nationally accepted program involving the placement of law
enforcement officers within the educational environment. The officer while at
the schools, is involved in a variety of functions and programs aimed at
prevention and intervention. Besides being an active and high profile law
enforcement officer, the SRO is a valuable resource for students, parents,
teachers, and administrators. Another duty for the SRO is to link other service
agencies, which provide preventive and counseling services within the school
district. Working hand-in-hand with the Principal in each school, the SRO
assists with finding solutions to problems affecting school age children.
The SRO program is a proactive approach to identifying risk factors that will
help with the pressures that today's young people face. This includes the
use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, peer pressure, gang activity, and sex. These
situations are not only in the schools, but in the community. The approach of
addressing these issues only in the school, or only in the community, has not
been completely effective. The police, schools, and community are now working
closer together where traditionally they did not interact unless a problem
arose.
The Youth Resource Officer (YRO) program is a component in the COPPS philosophy
of teaching. The YRO is a resource in the community, who teaches and instructs
elementary and middle school children. The YRO addresses situations by educating
students on drug awareness (DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and gang
awareness (GREAT - Gang Resistance Education and Training). The DARE and GREAT
program curriculums are 13 to 17 weeks long and are taught to approximately 400,
5th and 7th grade students each year.
Banning Police G.R.E.A.T
Program
Banning Police KO Gangs
Program
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