Much more than law enforcement

There seems to be some misunderstanding as to the roll of the school resource officer in our public schools. A school is a microcosm of the community. Fortunately most of the students are law-abiding citizens, as are most community members. But as every community sometimes needs police protection, so does a school. A resource officer is there in an emergency situation, but the job encompasses far more than that.

He or she is an educator and frequently spends time in the classroom. He is an arbitrator and is instrumental in resolving student conflicts before they get out of hand. He is a liaison between the police department and the school district. He is a legal resource to staff, students, and parents. But most of all he is a mentor to many students who have known the police in only a negative light. This is a grassroots program that has proven its worth. I would encourage all parents to support this program through their respective school districts. It works.

Snohomish