School Resource Officer (S.R.O) Program

The School Resource Officer program continues to have a positive impact on our community. The primary focus of the program is to provide a safer school environment. Effort continues to implement, practice, and improve school lockdown procedures for crisis situations. Several of our SROs are also involved in training other agencies and schools within the state about these procedures. We have become the regional leader in this field and had an overwhelming response from schools and agencies in the area when we hosted this training at our department in June.

The SRO also is a valuable resource for the schools by providing a police presence and being able to share knowledge and experience in the classroom settings. There are currently 11 officers assigned to their respective middle or high schools. Not only do they work in their assigned school, but they also help at various elementary or other student agencies when the need arises. In 2008, almost 950 cases were assigned to the SROs for follow-up ranging from runaways to assaults and narcotics. The SROs also have the responsibility of working at every home football and basketball game, in addition to school dances.

The SROs stay busy throughout the summer as well. Emphasis is put on training and four officers attended the National Association of School Resource Officers (N.A.S.R.O.) annual conference for some of the most recognized national training. Every officer in the unit was invited to attend a symposium sponsored by the Sioux Falls School District where nationally recognized keynote speaker Michael Dorn presented training on school safety. Some of the officers also work bike patrol and put many hours on the bike trails as well as the downtown area. Another important duty taken on for the summer was following up on registrations of sex offenders and verifying they still resided at the addresses given. The DARE Kids Camp also involved a lot of extra help that the SROs provided.

School Safety Officer

The Schhol Safety Officer conducts programs in 22 public elementary and 15 parochial and private schools each year. These yearly programs include “Conflict Resolution,” “Street Smart Kids,” “Pedestrian Safety,” “Bicycle Safety,” and “Kid Escape.” One of the teaching tools used by the School Safety Officer is “Buddy the Safety Bug,” a talking Volkswagen Beetle police car. These programs reach approximately 11,000 children in preschool through fifth grade. Over 40 day cares are visited twice during the summer for child safety programs. The School Safety Officer conducts “Bike School” monthly during the summer and assists with Kids Camp during the summer. Our School Safety Officer is currently certified as an instructor in Child Passenger Safety. He attends and coordinates several child safety seat checkup events in the community throughout the year. The positive influence the School Safety Officer has on our children makes this an indispensable program.