School Resource Officer

The Middlesex Borough Police Department implemented its School Resource Officer (SRO) Program in September 1999. The program was developed as a partnership with the Middlesex Borough Public Schools and is designed to protect our most valuable resource – our children. The Department’s School Resource Officer is assigned to the high school, the middle school, and the three elementary schools on a full-time basis.

The objectives of the program are:

Increase school security and reduce school violence.

The School Resource Officer enhances school security by virtue of his presence and visibility. By using crime prevention strategies and intelligent enforcement measures, the SRO improves the safety of the learning environment. The SRO constantly evaluates school security, identifying deficiencies and recommending corrective measures. The School Resource Officer is instrumental in assisting the schools’ administrators in developing emergency action plans.

Improve relations between school-aged youths and law enforcement officials.

The School Resource Officer maintains an office at the High School and conducts visits to the elementary and middle schools on a regular basis. The SRO is readily accessible to the students. The SRO does not act as a counselor, but he can provide important information and advice on law enforcement related matters and can refer students to other agencies when appropriate. Through daily interactions with the students, the School Resource Officer works to erode the barriers that exist between police and kids.

Improve school/law enforcement collaboration

The School Resource Officer program establishes a critical link between the schools’ administration and the police department. Through his frequent contacts with school officials, the SRO is able to alert school administrators to potential problems and work with school officials to prevent problems.

Provide additional educational resources.

The School Resource Officer is available to teachers as a guest speaker, able to share his expertise on a variety of law enforcement and safety related issues. In the classroom, he can lecture on constitutional law, police practices, drunk driving laws and their enforcement, motor vehicle law, and a variety of other topics. The SRO also arranges for presentations by other law enforcement agencies and community organizations.

For more information about the School Resource Officer Program call the Middlesex Police Department at (732) 356-1900.

Copyright © 2001 Middlesex Borough Police Department