• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
        Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
        “The good guys won …”
        “Service was running through his veins”: Condolences pour in for...
        Atlanta police officer and fire rescue captain save trapped driver...
    • Labor
      • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
        “A financial tsunami”
        LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
        Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
        We quit!
    • Tech
      • The rise of I2P
        Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
        Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
        AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
        Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
    • Training
      • Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
        CIT training is not for everyone
        Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
        Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
        Firearm instructors: Just be better!
    • Policy
      • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
        New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
        New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
        Diversity in law enforcement
        Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
    • Health/Wellness
      • What threat does to the brain
        Seeking the right kind of help
        Working through grief
        Responding to trauma
        “Why does that call keep haunting me?”
    • Community
      • Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
        Committing to outreach
        Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
        “Live every day like it’s your last”
        National Night Out 2023
    • Offbeat
      • California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
        Runaway lemur leads Missouri police on wild chase
        Alligator on the loose in New Jersey captured after two-week chase
        Traffic stop by TV’s Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son leads to...
        Bone-chilling: Human skull found in donation box at Arizona Goodwill...
    • We Remember
      • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
        Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
        Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
        “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
        Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • On the Job
    • Heroic Pennsylvania officer saves father and daughter from drowning...
      Denver law enforcement struggle to divert low-level offenders to...
      “The good guys won …”
      “Service was running through his veins”: Condolences pour in for...
      Atlanta police officer and fire rescue captain save trapped driver...
  • Labor
    • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay...
      “A financial tsunami”
      LAPD officers receive raises, bonuses
      Minnesota police force faces disbandment as chief resigns amid salary...
      We quit!
  • Tech
    • The rise of I2P
      Ann Arbor Police Department adopts AI technology to analyze body...
      Ohio law enforcement adopts powerful ballistics technology to combat...
      AI-powered surveillance program raises concerns over privacy rights...
      Chesterfield County announces real-time crime center to enhance...
  • Training
    • Leaders take note: A handwritten note goes a long way
      CIT training is not for everyone
      Mentoring: Leave ’em better than you found ’em
      Ohio struggles to secure permanent funding for law enforcement...
      Firearm instructors: Just be better!
  • Policy
    • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and...
      New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question...
      New Texas law gives local law enforcement greater control over...
      Diversity in law enforcement
      Florida attorney general and John Walsh partner in new Crime Stoppers...
  • Health/Wellness
    • What threat does to the brain
      Seeking the right kind of help
      Working through grief
      Responding to trauma
      “Why does that call keep haunting me?”
  • Community
    • Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect...
      Committing to outreach
      Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for...
      “Live every day like it’s your last”
      National Night Out 2023
  • Offbeat
    • California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
      Runaway lemur leads Missouri police on wild chase
      Alligator on the loose in New Jersey captured after two-week chase
      Traffic stop by TV’s Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son leads to...
      Bone-chilling: Human skull found in donation box at Arizona Goodwill...
  • We Remember
    • Headstone finally marks grave of Pennsylvania officer who gave his...
      Memorial for the fallen: The sacrifice continues
      Paying Tribute to the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
      “He was like a protector …”: Genesee County sheriff’s deputy...
      Deadly police pursuit claims life of 19-year-old Vermont police...
  • Between the Lines
    • Debunking the perpetual narrative of racial bias in policing
      The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

On the Job

The gatekeepers of school safety

SROs play vital role in the prevention of targeted school violence

Dr. Mariya Dvoskina Published February 24, 2021 @ 2:00 pm PST

iStock.com/RonBailey

When talking to school administrators about targeted violence prevention, the topic of school resource officers (SROs) often comes up. Unfortunately, a common misperception in these circles is that SROs contribute to the “school-to-prison pipeline.” This misperception, along with other stereotypes held against law enforcement, often hinders the creation of a safer school environment. There are three key ways in which the presence of an SRO can significantly increase school safety and play a role in the prevention of targeted violence: planning, detection and disruption.

Planning

According to National School Safety and Security Services and other research, when SROs are asked about emergency preparedness in the area of targeted violence, they consistently report the inadequacy or sheer inexistence of school emergency response plans. SROs also tend to report a lack of ongoing emergency preparedness and active shooter response training and inadequate target hardening. If allowed, SROs can be instrumental in developing better active shooter emergency preparedness and responses and closing the gaps in safety they see.

Detection

Research has consistently shown that school shooters researched, planned and prepared over weeks and months before perpetration of their crimes, as presented by J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., in Psychology Today. In addition, attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that caused others concern or indicated a threat. Thus, it is highly important that warning behaviors are both noticed and taken seriously. Part of the reason that reporting systems have been shown to be so effective in violence prevention is because they harness the power of dozens or hundreds of detectors — the students themselves. SROs play a vital part in this process as well, keeping a keen eye on behaviors that otherwise may go unnoticed and unreported. Studies show that SROs are able to spot potential problems (such as students carrying weapons) and provide referrals and assistance to struggling students.

Disruption

Just as important as detection is the disruption of a concerning behavior. Once on the radar, it is important that an intervention is put in place to address and monitor the concern. School threat assessment teams often do themselves a disservice by not including SROs in threat management meetings and plans. There are several ways in which SROs can play a vital role in the disruption of a student’s trajectory to violence outside of simply making a referral on the administrative level. In the moment, the use of crisis intervention techniques by SROs has been shown to decrease incidents of violence. In the long term, SROs can play a vital preventative role by building relationships with students. Examination of thwarted school shootings showed that development of a positive relationship with students was more important to school safety than most other means, including gun control. Examples can be explored by reviewing published materials by Daniels, Royster, Vecchi and Pshenishny, 2010; Moscardino, Scrimin, Capello and Altoe, 2013; and Warnick, Johnson and Rocha, 2010. Finally, if an incident begins to unfold, the presence of an SRO guarantees the fastest response time.

School administrators often have other concerns about SROs based on a misperception or past negative experiences. I believe these concerns may be mitigated through better administrator and SRO training, teamwork and willingness to problem-solve. However, if our focus is on creating safer school environments, the role of the SRO should not be dismissed or overlooked.

Dr. Mariya Dvoskina

Dr. Mariya Dvoskina

Dr. Mariya Dvoskina is a police and public safety psychologist working with Nicoletti-Flater Associates in Colorado. She provides consultation, training, counseling, peer support supervision and critical incident response services to local and federal agencies.

View articles by Dr. Mariya Dvoskina

As seen in the February 2021 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Don’t miss out on another issue today! Click below:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Categories: On the Job

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Stockton P.D. launches Your Way Registry Program to protect individuals with mental and neurological disorders
  • What threat does to the brain
  • Texas enacts stricter laws to combat illegal street racing and takeovers
  • California Highway Patrol arrests man on horseback for DUI
  • Committing to outreach
  • Runaway lemur leads Missouri police on wild chase
  • Scam callers pose as law enforcement to trick victims into paying for missing jury duty
  • Seeking the right kind of help
  • San Francisco “workhorse” deputy earns millions in overtime pay amid staffing shortages
  • New Mexico Supreme Court clarifies police authority to question passengers during traffic stops

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.