about what the exact role of an SRO is. Most recently, Utah became one of two states to prohibit cops from lying to children to coerce a confession.
“Every principal that you talk to will describe the role of a school resource officer in a different way,” said Anna Thomas, a senior policy analyst at Voices of Utah Children. “In some schools, they’re used as mentors. In some schools, they’re used as classroom management aides. In some schools, they’re very strictly used for law-enforcement purposes, although that’s pretty rare.”With 41 school districts in Utah, the role of an SRO can vary vastly depending on where they’re working.
NASRO specifies that SROs should only become involved if a student breaks the law. They should not be involved in administrative approaches to discipline, Barnes said. “These trainings are available, but it does not necessarily mean that there’s any mandate that requires an officer to attend,” Barnes said.
“It’s a community-oriented police component,” Horsley said. “[Officers] are not there as a driving force to really root out crime. Although you can help with investigations, what you’re there to do is build relationships and then help prevent crime.” What sets Granite apart, Sgt. Jason DeHerrera said, is the investment from school and district administrators to work with officers and provide resources for students.
“We teach them to recognize really what’s going on with the kids rather than to focus on what they created,” DeHerrera said. Moisés Próspero is the executive director of iCHAMPS, a community-centered organization aiming to create better relationships between law enforcement and youth. In 2018, he and retired Magna City police chief Steve Anjewierdenk facilitated a School-Based Law Enforcement Training to equip SROs with a basic, clear understanding of what their job should entail.
“The parents and I have been fighting for support services required by federal law for their son for a very long time,” Erin Preston, a Utah education lawyer, said.
Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: TucsonStar - 🏆 339. / 59 Read more »