MCSO to begin school resource officer program
In the past, several deputies with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office have tried to start a School Resource Officer program, however with limited staff and funding it was a challenge to have an officer working solely with the three schools in Mineral County.
School shootings and instances of violence at schools have been recorded as far back as 150-years ago, but the internet age and 24-hour media cycle have brought these occurrences to center stage.
As a result, the perpetrators of these crimes have found somewhat of a cult-like following amongst similarly minded students.
“Every time there is a shooting the kids that are following that look at where they failed and try to improve their strategy,” Mineral County Deputy and Probation Officer Tim Case said.
“Law enforcement is now catching up and trying to make the preventative side better and better.”
In that pursuit, Case has recently completed a 40-hour course in Oregon through the National Association of School Resource Officers and beginning this school year will serve as a School Resource Officer on a part-time basis.
“They (NASRO) try to give us all the tools to prevent things that lead to either suicide or school shootings,” Case said.
“We aren’t there at the school to try to catch kids doing bad things and file charges. A lot of kids, their first experience with law enforcement is us at their house arresting their parents, things like that, and they kind of get the idea that we are the bad guy. Through the school resource program we can show them that we are good people and are there to help.”
According to their website, NASRO was established on “the ‘triad’ concept of school-based policing which is the true and tested strength of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The triad concept divides the SRO’s responsibilities into three areas: Teacher, Counselor, and Law Enforcement Officer. By training law enforcement to educate, counsel, and protect our school communities, the men and women of NASRO continue to lead by example and promote a positive image of law enforcement to our Nation’s youth.”
Case added that the purpose of the program is to “try to establish” relationships with students in order to provide one more outlet for those students who might be victims of bullying or considering drastic measures such as suicide and other violent acts.
“It usually takes two or three years of having the program before all of the faculty, kids and community as a whole really 100-percent support and understand what we are doing,” Case said.
“Once they see what we are trying to do the kids come to us more.”
On top of visiting schools throughout the week, Case said he is able to attend extra-curricular activities such as sporting events and provide educational lessons to students on topics like internet safety.
“It’s trying to give them preventative educational help,” Case said. “It helps give everybody another tool.”
For the first year of the program, Case said his goals are to give schools the opportunity to see the potential benefits of the program.
Once they see the benefits, Case hopes they will in turn apply for as much grant money as possible.
“We are going to aim high and see if we can get a full-time SRO at each of the schools,” Case said.
“At the very least we are hoping for either full-time or part-time funding so we can give each school at least one day a week.”
Case added that MCSO will also pursue any grants that could help support the program.
“If nothing else, even though a day a week is not a lot, it still helps,” Case said. “if we don’t get something next year we will keep trying each year until we finally get the funding we need to get a better program.”
For more information on the SRO program, or to help support the program, contact MCSO at 822-3570.
Information on NASRO can be found at www.nasro.org.