reno police department ride along program for students

In addition, the SRO assists the K9 unit with any ongoing drug problems. The SRO handles traffic accidents on campus and parking issues on adjoining streets. This may include arrest, or diversionary tactics such as composing a paper instead of filing criminal charges. Any criminal act that takes place in the school or on school grounds is handled by the SRO. Police officers on school campuses have coordinated with school faculty to develop plans and strategies to prevent and minimize potentially dangerous situations such as unwanted guests or intruders into the building. The SRO is a continual resource and is familiar with community agencies that offer assistance to youths and their families, such as mental health clinics and drug treatment centers. The SRO normally works the hours when the students are present, but are able to vary their hours to attend activities like PTA meetings, staff meetings, or school orientations. The SRO is available for conferences with students, parents and faculty members in order to assist them with problems of a law enforcement or crime prevention nature. For example, a SRO will encourage individual and small group discussions with students to further establish rapport. Through cooperative agreements between the Police Department, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, and College Community Schools, the School Resource Officer addresses day-to-day issues at the schools, works with school administrators and teachers, and serves as a resource for students.

These officers are responsible for the feeder middle schools as well. Jefferson, Kennedy, Metro, Prairie and Washington high schools, along with Polk Alternative School, McKinley Middle School, and Roosevelt Middle School have a School Resource Officer (SRO) on campus. Officers visit each elementary classroom at least once a year with age-specific safety protocols on topics such as stranger danger, bullying, gun safety and Internet safety. Police officers also make regular appearances at elementary schools through the Police PAL (Protect, Assist and Listen) program. Police officers typically have a presence around school neighborhoods before and after-school. Police officers have been working with elementary students in local schools for more than 30 years and have expanded their presence in upper grade levels by having School Resource Officers. An opportunity to establish positive relationships with students, motivate them to be civic-minded citizens, and help keep them safe – these are all goals of police officers working in schools throughout Cedar Rapids.

Reno police department ride along program for students