What is the difference between a police officer and a school resource officer?
Thank you for your question! Police officers and school resource officers (SRO) are both certified law enforcement officers employed by the local law enforcement agency. Both police officers and SROs are responsible for crime prevention, detection and enforcement of laws in Virginia, with the authority delineated in state law to respond to incidents, conduct investigations, issue citations and make arrests. SROs, however, operate under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the school district and police department. Under this MOU, officers are assigned to one or more schools to provide law enforcement and security services within school environments but are still subject to administrative control of the local law enforcement agency.
Unlike community-based officers, SROs primarily interact with students and the position necessitates an understanding to student dynamics to facilitate trust-building, overcome cultural barriers and foster inclusivity, which ultimately contributes to a safer and more enriching school environment.
Answer from Ralph Bradley, Director of Safety and Security