What is a School Resource Officer?

 

The School Resource Officer (SRO) Program is the next step in Community Orientated Policing (COP). The SRO is an asset to used by the school and the community in an attempt to address situations in the lives of students in a manner other than the criminal justice system.

 

The School Resource Officer Program is a national accepted program involving the placement of a law enforcement officer within the educational environment. The officer is involved in a variety of functions while in the school targeted on prevention. In addition to being an active high profile law enforcement officer, the SRO is a resource for students, parents, teachers and the administration regarding law related issues. Working hand in hand with the administration on strategic plans to keep the students and teacher’s safe at all times. The SRO assists with finding solutions to problems affecting today’s school age children.

 

The SRO is a proactive approach to deal with the many pressures that today’s youth finds itself having to deal with. This includes the use of alcohol, drugs along with peer pressure, harassment, bullying and cyber bullying. These situations are not only in the schools, but in the community as well.

 

In 2001, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office joined a growing list of sheriff’s offices and police departments across the country by instituting a school resource officer program. The SRO has become a very important element of the sheriff’s office and is unique position that creates a positive image of law enforcement to the youth of our school and our community.

 

The SRO Program is a cooperative effort between the Harbor Creek School District and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Shawn Schwartz is the SRO for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the Harbor Creek School District.

 

 

Deputy Shawn Schwartz 

School Resource Officer- Harbor Creek School District

6375 Buffalo Road

Harborcreek, Pa 16421

 

Office: 814 897-2100 Ext. 1259

Fax: 814 897-2121

 

E-mail sschwartz@hcsd.iu5.org

 

Tips: sschwartz@hcsd.iu5.org