Dr. Chen believes in the importance of the School Resource Officers (SROs) in maintaining a safe learning environment for students. And Chen is in support of keeping the current 13 SROs at all high schools and Homewood Center and restoring 6 SROs who are shared among middle schools. Here is Chen’s view on SROs:
- Enhance safety: SROs help address emergencies in schools, have quick access by radio or call when needed, provide safety training to both teachers and students, and serve as the go-to person for “see something – say something” for students at school. Also, the presence of an SRO may deter potential aggression and violence.
- Career role models: SROs can show a positive impact on students by giving safety instructions on topics such as drugs, DUI, traffic, etc., so our kids could better learn the rights and responsibilities to protect themselves. SROs can be the first point of contact for a student interested in a law enforcement career.
- Responsibility: SROs should be thoroughly vetted before entering the program. Continuous training – throughout the year and during summer breaks – should be in place for them, too.
If you are interested in discussing this issue with Dr. Chen, please feel free to leave a comment, or send email to chen4boe@gmail.com.
Dr. Chen - BOE 