School Resource Officer

Our School Resource Officer (SRO) program is a collaboration between the Lancaster Police Department and the Lancaster School District, with the intention of creating and maintaining a safe, secure, and orderly learning environment for students and staff. The SRO program is designed to help prevent juvenile delinquency by promoting positive relations between youth and law enforcement. SROs are responsible for preventing crime and ensuring safety in primary and secondary schools. SROs serve to improve relationships and act as liaisons between students, law enforcement, and the community. SROs should be considered a resource for both the student and their families.

What is a School Resource Officer?

Law Enforcer

School Resource Officers are sworn Police officers who:

• Promote a safe environment where students, teachers, and staff feel safe.
• Provide a highly visible presence to deter or identify criminal activity on campus.
• Investigate suspected criminal activity occurring on District property and/or related to the District in accordance with NYS Law and District policy.
• Assist school administrators with truancy issues.

Emergency Manager

• Develop and implement comprehensive safety plans or strategies in coordination with school administrators and local first responders.

Educator

Conduct age-appropriate group/classroom presentations related to law enforcement on a variety of topics, such as:

• NYS laws/roles of Police Officers
• Drugs/Alcohol 
• Vaping
• Domestic-related issues
• Social Media/Internet Safety
• Personal safety
• Crime/Violence prevention
• Healthy Boundaries
• Harassment/Bullying
• Rapid Response Drills

Law Related Counselor

Students often request one-on-one advice from the SRO on how to handle law-related issues that they may experience, such as:

• Traffic tickets
• Domestic issues
• Family issues
• Harassment/Social Media Concerns

Mentor and Role Model

• Build relationships and reinforce positive behaviors and positive decision-making, along with promoting character building
• The SRO is another caring adult in the building who works to find positive solutions for students
• Attend sporting events and extracurricular activities at the request of the District
• Refer students and their families to the appropriate resources and/or agencies for assistance when need is determined