School Resource Officers
MORGAN COUNTY SCHOOLS
We currently have 9 SROS covering our schools and have 1 assigned to each school or school cluster. We do not receive any additional funding to operate or equip the SRO Program. The Morgan County School System covers the salary of the SROs, while we handle the oversight, training, and equipping of the team through discretionary funding from Concealed Carry Permit sales.
SRO Program Manager |
Cotaco Schools |
Sparkman School / Sub |
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SRO George Sharp Falkville Schools |
SRO Mike Hazel Danville High |
SRO Jim Buchli Priceville Jr. High |
SRO Joe Mann Lacey's Spring School |
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SRO John Wall Priceville Elementary |
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What is the SRO program?
The SRO Program was first implemented in Flint, Michigan in 1951. Since the program's inception, it has successfully been put into practice in school districts and states all over America..
The program was implemented in partnership with the Morgan County School System and started with an alternative education program dealing with at-risk and special needs students. The program has since evolved to be a strong resource shared at schools throughout Morgan County. Many other law enforcement agencies throughout Morgan County have also implemented SRO Programs in order to provide services to all public schools in Morgan County. With the increasingly high amounts of pressures, children are facing, growing up can be an extreme challenge. We understand the need to provide positive guidance, and we are committed to providing them with a safe school environment.
Furthermore, the function of our program has adapted and changed to keep up with the growing needs and trends of our children and schools. We partner with schools by providing training to students and staff. This training covers issues such as bullying, internet safety, drug and alcohol awareness, and other real-life issues that affect our children and communities within Morgan County. We are currently serving the campuses in Brewer, Danville, Falkville, and Priceville as well as Cotaco School, Eva School, Lacey's Spring School, Sparkman School, and Union Hill School.
The involvement of SROs extends far beyond the classroom and the normal workday. Officers participate in parent-teacher conferences and faculty meetings, student social and sporting events, and club projects. The presence of SROs tends to strengthen the student/police bonds and shows the officers' commitment to the students and their education and safety.
What is a School Resource Officer?
A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a certified law enforcement officer who is assigned full-time to work with schools. Accordingly, SROs receive many hours of ongoing specialized training. The concept is similar to the "cop on foot patrol" who knows the people he serves on a first-name basis and is sensitive to their particular needs.
Like many adults, some students view police officers solely as enforcers of laws. By establishing a rapport with the SRO assigned to their school, students will not only gain positive role models, but also a better understanding of law enforcement officers. They will also better understand the many other duties and responsibilities associated with their profession aside from traditional law enforcement.
Likewise, SROs will gain a better perspective of the youth in their schools. By carefully assessing the needs of individual students, SROs will be more aware of the development of unhealthy or destructive behavioral patterns. Through early intervention, it is possible to redirect negative behaviors before they cause students to be referred to the criminal justice system.