School Resource Officers

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a career law enforcement officer with sworn authority, who is deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned to work in collaboration with school administrations to promote a safe, educational environment for all, free from the fear of crime and victimization.

The role of the SRO
School Resource Officers serve as members of school faculty performing various duties as teacher, guest speaker, informal counselor, programs coordinator and law enforcement officer. Among their long list of responsibilities, SROs:

  • serve as active law enforcement figures and positive role models on campus, dealing with law and safety/public order-related issues, and as a resource to teachers, parents and students, dealing with individual problems, concerns or questions
  • provide classroom instruction in law-related education, violence prevention/diffusion, Internet safety, bullying, alcohol and drug prevention, crime prevention, citizenship, safety programs including bicycle safety, and more
  • serve as faculty and administrative team partner, working to solve problems in the school community, and helping to bridge the gap between police and young people to increase positive attitudes toward law enforcement
  • reduce juvenile crime by increasing students’ awareness of rules, authority and justice, and promoting self-awareness, ownership of the school community and responsible citizenship
  • review school crisis plans and offer suggestions, and conduct safety meetings with school administration, staff and students to offer recommendations for improvement, including brief site surveys using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) techniques
  • schedule lock-down drills and assist school administration with tornado and fire drills
  • gather information regarding potential problems such as criminal or gang activity, student unrest, and identify particular individuals who may be a disruptive influence to the school and/or students
  • attend meetings of parent groups and faculty-wide in-service sessions

Lenexa School Resource Officers
Officer Betsy Madl (913.825.8020)
Trailridge Middle School

Corporal Shawn Hardeman (913.825.8103)
St. James Academy High School
Mill Creek Middle School
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Manchester Park Elementary School
Rising Star Elementary School

Officer Danny Chavez (913.825.8040)
Christa McAuliffe School
Mill Creek Elementary School
Rosehill Elementary School
Sunflower Elementary School