The Acushnet Police Department and Acushnet Public Schools have partnered together to have a police officer act as liaison. This specially trained officer is called a School Resource Officer (SRO). It is this officer’s role to help enhance school security and provide law enforcement education and counseling. School Resource Officers act as a resource to teachers, parents, and students by providing direction or advice on law related issues.

Generally speaking, the roles of an SRO in a school context are:

• Law Enforcement: SROs address crime and disorder in and around the school campus; they should strive to employ non punitive techniques when interacting with students, using citation and arrest only as a last resort under narrow circumstances.

• Informal Counselor: SROs build relationships with students and act as liaisons to community services for youth and families.

• Educator: SROs teach students about crime prevention and safety, drug awareness, conflict resolution, and other topics related to law enforcement and the legal system.

• Emergency Manager: SROs develop and implement emergency preparedness policies, including comprehensive school safety plans, and coordinate with first responders in an emergency. SROs are integral members of a school threat assessment team.