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(508) 398-7653 |
Dial 9-1-1 for Emergencies |
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The School Resource Officer |
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Without argument, Many people unfortunately jump to the
conclusion that having police officers assigned to a school means that the
campus has become overrun by crime.
This is the short-sighted view of the uninformed. True enough, high school is not what it
used to be but in the words of Billy Joel, “The good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” People who are moving through their teen years
in today’s world are definitely exposed to experiences and circumstances that
in many cases their parents did not face until adulthood if at all. It only stands to reason that a responsible
support system would access a variety of resources in defense of and on
behalf of it’s children, including the police. If we view adolescence as a road then it is
appropriate to think of the school resource officer as a traffic cop. As the young people of today travel the
road of their personal development, turning left, turning right, trying to
find their way, many will encounter potholes and speed bumps particularly
through the high school years. They
will be faced with decisions on what lane to travel in, what on or off ramps
to take, when to pass, when to put on the breaks and without question they
will come to many crossroads, often without a map. In those circumstances it’s a good thing to
have someone, with their best interests at heart coupled with specialized training
and experience, who can call them by their first name to give them
directions. Now it’s true, sometimes
the traffic cop writes a ticket.
Consequences are a part of every decision, good or bad, and while we
hope the directions we give will always bring them home safely, it is
important to pull them over as early as possible if they start down the wrong
road, lest they continue on and drive off an allegorical cliff. Of course, prevention and intervention is
always the preferred course and there is nothing quite like
waving to the young, happy, and healthy motorist as they drive by on the road
to success. With this metaphor in
park, the more formal description of the school resource officer
follows. |
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The Yarmouth
Police and Dennis Police Departments have reached out to offer our specialized knowledge to
help our young people make good decisions in the face of the difficulties
that they will encounter in today's world. The School Resource Officer
Program has been in successful operation at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School since 1987.
The School Resource Officer is
there for many reasons, most important of which is to be a resource to the students. Three major parts of the job are: Law Enforcement Enforcing the law occurs when it is
necessary. As a policeman, the officer
is required to investigate crime and take people to court or make
arrests. In the absence of crime
in our schools more time can be spent concentrating on more positive and
productive things. Education The officer is frequently a guest speaker in
classrooms. Classes are given on subjects
such as: the effects of drugs on the body, legal and school consequences for
getting caught with illegal substances, domestic violence, sexual assault,
and the ever popular “Stump the Cop” free-form question and answer sessions. The School Resource Officer is also
available to help students with individual projects. Specialized Counseling The School Resource Officer is
at school to answer student’s questions and help them with their problems at
school or at home. The officer often
meets privately with students to talk about all types of issues. If you think the officer can help you don’t
wait, go see him. We look forward to continued success.
Combining the resources of our school system and our police department will
provide a safer learning environment and a broader educational experience. Some of the other services provided: ·
Serving as a role
model to students. ·
Deterring misconduct
through prevention and intervention. ·
Assisting the school
administration when others commit acts of violence or other crimes. ·
Serving as liaison
between the police department and the school. ·
Assisting staff with
classroom activities involving instruction on various criminal justice
issues. ·
Providing primary
source information to students working on individual projects. ·
Assisting with
security of the school and it’s grounds. ·
Sustaining the
reality that our school is a safe learning environment. ·
Providing teacher
and staff training. ·
Acting as a resource
to parents. ·
Alcohol and other
drug resistance education and prevention. ·
Providing career
counseling to students interested in the law enforcement field.
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