Keeping the students of Londonderry safe is the main goal of the school resource officer program. Chances are, you may not have seen or heard of these men and women who choose to patrol the schools rather than the streets. They are certified officers, but specialize in dealing with children and their needs.
“First and foremost, we are police officers,” said School Resource Officer Adam C. Lane at the last School Board meeting. He was formerly with the Rockingham Sheriff’s Department and a Sargent with the Kingston Police Department. Other officers have served with the Londonderry Police Department or other local police before becoming security resource officers. All together there are four officers and at least five crossing guards that work together under the guidance of Investigations Lieutenant Ryan Kearney to not only keep the peace in the schools, but to provide some peace of mind to the parents.
“Some kids will ask, ‘are you a real cop?’ Yeah… I’m a real police officer,” chuckled Lane.
Lane is the SRO coordinator and works with the elementary schools and kindergartens. Officer Christopher Wiggin is over at the high school and Officer Emily Dyer covers the middle school. Officer Charles Nickerson serves as a substitute SRO.
He presented some information to the School Board about what the officers do and why the programs is so important to the town and district. He explained the role of the National Associating of School Resource Officers in training and certifying officers to work in the school setting. According to the NASRO, a school resource officer “by federal definition is a career law enforcement officer who is deployed by an employing department or an agency or a community oriented policing department to work in collaboration with one of our schools.” In other words, an SRO is an officer that works with the schools to establish safety and security for all staff and students.
The job of an SRO can take them to the athletic fields during a game, or the gym for an assembly, or to the classroom to help teach. At the high school level, officers are invited to discuss substance abuse in health classes, while the younger kids get treated to talks about traffic safety. The officers also assist with fire drills and lockdown drills. In more serious cases, the officers can be called on to help with unsafe situations or possible criminal activity on campus.
The role of the SROs is more just being reactive to what happens at the schools. Being proactive and engaging with the students on a daily basis is extremely important to not only building a good relationship with the officer, but creating a positive attitude about law enforcement in general.
“It’s really important for us to be good role models and to be that good example and let them know we’re there,” said Lane. He went on to explain that the officers will often walk around the cafeterias at lunch and talk to the students, ask about their day and see what’s going on in their lives.
The board had asked in the past for more money to hire additional SROs, and asked Lane how he could explain to residents why the programs is important to fund. He replied that they provide three things: first, safety to all staff and students at each school. Second, the offer community policing by making connections and relationships with locals. Lastly, they act as a liaison between the school system and the police department.
The next time you’re at a Lancer football game, play, or any school related event, take the time to reach out and meet the men and women of the school resource program and see why they are more than just school resource officers- they’re important members of the Londonderry community.