Originally Posted by Kellywk
Originally Posted by kwg020
Originally Posted by JMR40
They are "school resource officers". Acting as a guard is secondary. Most of what they do is behind the scenes. They serve as a link between school administration and the DA's office giving advice on legal and security matters to school administrators. They also are in contact with cops on the street are aware of potential problems and prevent issues from getting into the schools.

They might be able to stop, or at least limit the damage from a kid with a gun in the school, but at best might slow down an organized terrorist attack.

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So really why would anyone that is a officer or guard work at a school district?


I have some close friends and one relative who work locally as SRO's and a buddy I went to high school is in charge of the program in a neighboring county. I can't speak for all of them, but the ones I know love the kids. And most of the kids really like them. They interact with the kids and put in long hours. It isn't just an 8-3 job. They attend every after school activity, every basketball and football game even on Saturday's. They do a lot to prevent problems, not just react after an issue.


I spent 6 years as an SRO. I worked my a$$ off covering cases that originated inside of the building or on the school grounds. Mostly student on student assaults, thefts and disorderly conducts that involved the rights of other students who were drug into some bull$hit deal by some loser kid. (and their loser parents) This was no ROAD job. The real issue was dealing with a$$hole parents who always said "my kid wouldn't do that" or "my kid is not a bully". On top of that I was the district Truant officer for all of the buildings and I did Juvenile Court interventions where the kids did an informal probation with me or a JCO so their name did not go down to the county Juvenile Court. (we had a 75% success rate) 60 hours a week for 6 years. When I left we had 1500 kids under one roof in just 3 grades. Believe it or not, it was a great job and 90% of the kids were wonderful. 10% were determined to screw it up for everyone else and took pride in being a$$holes. (some apples don't fall far from the tree)
kwg


No offense, I know it’s a hard job and I have friends that do it but SRO is a job that shouldnt exist. A “student on student assault” is just a fight most of the time and should be handled accordingly by the principal. Schools shouldn’t be in the law enforcement business. If they think they have something that warrants prosecution then call it in to the local pd but having a school police force or having school employees play probation officer is just crazy to me


I hear what you are saying, but public school IS government. And government is about the use of coercive power. As a SRO or as a discrete department, it is almost inevitable that public schools are going to get into the business of coercive power. After all, try not paying your school-directed taxes (usually property). Keep it up and stick to your property and you will end up being shot in the face. Gov't schools may try to dress it all up with cutesy images & rhetoric, but in the end they are willing to kill you and yours to meet their objectives.

And given all the conflicting requirements and forbidden policies imposed on gov't schools, administrators are going to do their best to pass on the liability to some other person & organization.

Regards,

deadlift_dude
“The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence.”
----Fred Rogers