Across the nation and in the State of Maryland school boards are evaluating whether or not they need SROs within their schools. SROs are an integral and vital part of our education system ensuring safety, wellbeing, and building positive relationships. Over 46 weeks, from January to November 2019, there were 45 school shootings in the U.S. nearly 1 per week. On average in urban areas, it takes law enforcement 3 minutes to arrive on the scene. In rural areas that average rises to 18 minutes while the average school shooter event lasts an average of 13 minutes. 

SROs are the first-line defense to save our children from those who wish to do them harm. SROs are already there and assailants know this. We know our school buildings intricately. We can immediately move within the school towards the threat and eliminate it. We steer patrol officers at lightning speed with instructions on how to access the school and exactly where to respond. Once the threat is eliminated we are already on the scene to help the injured. These things drastically improve the likelihood of survival during and after an active shooter event. We stop the dying immediately once we stop the killing. 

Interactions with SROs are priceless within schools. We provide positive interactions with students and build trusting relationships which they then carry into the community. Children have flagged down patrol officers asking for their SRO by name for help. That relationship made it okay for that child to reach out to any police officer for help. They can learn that the person in uniform can be trusted and get vital help in times of crisis. This is evident in current adult relationships within communities today. 

We know our kids. We know when something is wrong. We figure out when they no longer have a home and are living outside, checked on them when they are absent and remove them from deplorable situations, identify signs of child sex trafficking, make sure they have food, pick up glasses or other required items from the home so they can learn effectively, provide clothes for them, listened to them when they need it, let them vent and scream at us when they can't deescalate so they can just get it out safely, walk the halls with them when they just need a break to cool down, ensure that they can learn in a safe and comfortable environment, know and provide them and their families with community services, and use DISCRETION for the best possible outcome for them as individuals and students. SROs ARE NOT STAT DRIVEN TO ARREST CHILDREN, we advocate for them.

We are a highly trained set of professionals in child development, trauma, abuse, mental health, and local and educational law. Please, we love our kids and our schools. Don't remove us from where we can help kids excel and succeed as they grow into our community.