The Haverhill Police Department School Resource Officers (SRO) are full time sworn police officers, who are assigned to work in cooperation with the Haverhill Public Schools and the Whittier Vocational Technical High School in an effort to provide a safe learning environment. The SRO provides law enforcement and police services to the school, school grounds and areas adjacent to the school while serving as a liaison between the schools and the local police department.
The SRO is expected to be visible within the school community and attend various school functions in an effort to build strong working relationships with the school's staff, students and parents. One of the most influential roles held by the SRO is that of being a positive role model to the students. Students often seek approval, direction and guidance in informal interactions with the SRO.
Schools are a microcosm of the community at large and as such encounter the same problems, including crime. The School Resource Officer serves as a resource to all members of this community by providing education, intervention, counseling, and deterrence. The School Resource Officer concept has existed in schools throughout the United States for decades, and has become an integral part of schools in Haverhill.
The Haverhill Police Department’s School Resource Officer program is committed to working with educators and administrators to maintain an atmosphere where students feel safe to learn. The School Resource Officer Program is not an overreaction to increased violence in American schools, but rather a proactive measure to ensure our campuses remain safe.
Functions
Haverhill Police School Resource Officers assume three roles within the school community:
Educator
School Resource Officers present law-related curriculum and presentations to students, faculty, and parents on pertinent subjects such as crime prevention, conflict resolution and mediation, drug and alcohol awareness, violence prevention, gang awareness, and community relations and outreach. The School Resource Officers are available to speak to classes and parent groups, and often provide information on an individual basis.
Resource Provider / Problem Solver
School Resource Officers provide informal, law-related counseling to students, teachers, and parents. This counseling can range from mediation of student conflicts to guiding students and parents to appropriate community services. School Resource Officers work closely with school social workers, counselors, and administrators to ensure students have access to all available resources.
Law Enforcement
School Resource Officers provide a positive law enforcement presence in the school community. Officers present a deterrent to violence, gang activity, vandalism, and theft. They also act as a positive role model for students. Officers investigate crimes which involve the school district or students and work closely with school administrators as a liaison between the school and the police department.