School Resource Officers

The School Resource Officer (S.R.O.) position is a joint venture between the Papillion Police Department and the Papillion-LaVista School District. An officer is assigned to the high schools and middle schools full-time, Monday through Friday, during the school year. The S.R.O. works closely with the teachers, students, staff, and school district to provide a safe school environment.


Program Goals

The main goals of the School Resource Officer program are to:
  • Reduced juvenile delinquency through close personal contact with students on a daily basis.
  • Bridge the gap between police officers and young people and increase positive attitudes toward law enforcement.
  • Teach the value of our legal system.
  • Promote respect for people and property.
  • Reduce juvenile crime by helping students formulate an awareness of the rules, authority and justice.
  • Take a personal interest in students and their activities.
  • Allow students access to the legal system.
  • Give students a realistic picture of our laws and legal system so they will have an investment in supporting and improving it.
  • Teach students how to avoid becoming a victim through self awareness and crime prevention.

About School Resource Officers

An S.R.O. is a visible, active law enforcement figure on campus dealing with any law-related issues. The S.R.O. is a classroom resource for instruction in the law related education, violence diffusion, safety programs, alcohol and drug prevention, crime prevention and other areas. The S.R.O. is a member of the faculty and administrative team working hand-in-hand to solve problems in the school community.

The S.R.O. serves as a resource for the students, which will enable students to be associated with a law enforcement figure in the student's environment. The S.R.O. serves as a resource to teachers, parents, and students for conferences on an individual basis, dealing with individual problems or questions. Also, the S.R.O. can serve as a counseling resource in areas which may affect the educational environment, but may be of a law related nature. The S.R.O. is also a liaison between the police department and helps provide community oriented policing services for the high school and the surrounding community.

Officers

How the Program Works

The School Resource Officer program at the Papillion-La Vista high schools works closely with the faculty and staff of the schools. Several programs have been developed and the S.R.O. has been regularly incorporated into several class curriculum. Classes taught on a recurrent or ongoing basis are Assault and the Consequences (legal and academic) taught to all sophomore students through their English 10 classes; Alcohol and Drug education through Fatal Vision goggles and other methods; Domestic Violence, Date Rape, and Dating Violence in partnership with the Family Services Unit of the courts; and Constitutional Issues in government classes. Other classes are law enforcement careers, the need for English in post-high school endeavors, and impromptu classes when requested by teachers.

Many partnerships have been developed and are utilized by the School Resource Officer. Among these programs are those with Family Services; Probation; La Vista Police Department and their Canine unit; Sarpy County Sheriff's Office; Cooperation BEST; the University of Nebraska at Omaha Public Administration Department; the Papillion Times newspaper; The Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program; and the Papillion Schools Foundation.