Chris Ruiz, a school resource officer at Pleasant Grove High School, told the Utah Legislature's School Security Task Force, there are 256 SROs that serve Utah's 1,083 public schools, which includes district and charter schools. Many officers are assigned to multiple schools.
Ruiz, who was recently honored with the National Association of School Resource Officers regional exceptional service awards, wears multiple hats at the Alpine School District high school. In addition to his law enforcement duties, Ruiz has sponsored the school's multi-cultural club, its law enforcement club, coached its swim team and even choreographed a dance routine for the ballroom dance team.He also makes an effort to work with students who are struggling.
As the student entered his senior year, Ruiz told him if he had no absences or tardies and he brought up his grade point average that Ruiz would reward him with a gift card to the restaurant of his choice. According to a presentation by Ruiz and Utah Department of Public Safety Sgt. Jeremy Barnes, public safety liaison to the Utah State Board of Education, salaries of school safety officers are typically split 50-50 between school districts or charter schools and local law enforcement agencies.
In recent years, school resource officers have been the subject of intense national debate, with some national experts arguing their methods of policing have contributed to the "school to prison pipeline."