Public Education Employee Perceptions of School Resource Officers

Abstract

Abstract The use of School Resource Officers (SRO's) has become an increasingly popular strategy in attempting to create safe learning environments on school campuses in the United States. The implementation of SROs saw a significant increase following the school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO on April 20, 1999. As media attention and parental interest drove schools to employ SROs, little was done in terms of uniform selection criteria, training guidelines or documentation of which schools were employing SROs. Furthermore, not much is known about the how SROs are perceived in their role or how effective they are at keeping the school campus safe. This study seeks to bring a greater understanding of the effectiveness of SROs in keeping their campuses safe and the role that adult education plays in formulating perceptions of SROs and regulating training protocols. The goal of this study is to provide meaningful information for school districts, law enforcement agencies, and stakeholders when considering SROs as part of their efforts to make their campuses safer.