There needs to be a formal understanding of what the School Resource Officers' purpose is and how essential it is that teachers and staff apprise them of problem students before trouble erupts. To change the on-patrol image of SROs and to build trust, SROs need to formally meet with staff and teachers to introduce themselves and state their purpose. It is important for SROs to show their concern and to explain the strategies they will employ to help troubled students. Demonstrating this in their daily activities during the school year will further build rapport and strengthen the cooperative effort between school officials and officers. The nature of modern law enforcement goes far beyond seeking out and arresting offenders.
Professional officers are skilled at intervention.
They are familiar with the community environment from which these kids come and officers are trained to go into volatile situations, such as violence prone homes and neighborhoods. Beyond this knowledge, their authority as officers allows them legal access to youth demonstrating reasonable suspicion of illegal activities. A final recommendation involves programming. Each officer should strive to develop and implement a program that effectively allows them to closely interaction with students in a non-confrontational setting. The intent is to foster communication and thereby create trust.