JUVENILE

  A School Resource Officer (SRO), or Juvenile Detective, is a sworn/commissioned law enforcement officer, who investigates crimes in his function as a detective with the Investigations Bureau.  He/she receives additional training specific to his/her position in the schools, which maximizes officer effectiveness in the school setting.  His/her  primary assignment is within the local schools for the purpose of enforcing laws; running law-related workshops and presentations for the students, faculty and parents; and counseling and mentoring students.

Our School Resource Officers are:

Educators- School Resource Officer's teach law related education to students. Some examples of topics are:

•  The Criminal Justice System

•  Constitutional Law

•  Today's Runaway

•  Math in Police Work              

•  The Juvenile Justice System

•  Substance Abuse

•  Drinking and Driving

•  Fighting

•  Hate Crimes

•  History of Law Enforcement

•  Juvenile Rights

•  The Making of Laws

Problem Solvers & Liaison to the Community – School Resource Officers are available to citizens who may have questions or problems relating to students.  By working closely with the community, School Resource Officers are able to focus on problem areas.  Some of the frequent complaints around schools are:

• Parking

• Traffic violations

• Littering

• Loitering 

Safety Advisors- School Resource Officers and school administrators work closely together in providing a safe environment for students.  Our officers assist the school in developing and improving plans for crises, evacuations, and other situations that are a safety concern.

Counselors and Mentors- By working closely with the students School Resource Officers are able to build a rapport with the students.  They become more approachable and foundations for advice and answers to questions.

School Resource Officers and Detectives are assigned to the high schools in the Tempe Union High School District, the middle school in the Kyrene School District, and the middle schools in the Tempe Elementary District.