School Resource Officers (SRO)

A School Resource Officer (SRO) in the Orchard Park School District is an Orchard Park Police Officer assigned to a particular school. For this, SROs receive many hours of specialized training and regularly update themselves on current laws involving minors. The concept is similar to the “officer on foot patrol” who knows their constituents and is sensitive to their particular needs.

Like many adults, some students view police officers solely as enforcers of laws. Students that have positive interactions with SROs view law enforcement in an entirely different light. They see the SRO as an acquaintance, advisor, positive role model, and someone to turn to in time of need.

The SRO also acts as a deterrent to criminal behavior through positive interactions with students and by his or her presence on school grounds. An SRO would be the primary officer to respond to any incident on the school grounds and has the ability to relay live information to the entire police department via radio; quicker than any other school staff could.

The concept of the School Resource Officer Program is that of an educator, law enforcer, counselor, and emergency manager.

One of the primary goals of SROs in the Orchard Park School District is to provide the safest environment possible for Orchard Park students to learn. An SRO has a diverse role in the school community and has many duties and responsibilities that are taken very seriously each and every day.

Orchard Park currently has full-time SROs in the High School, Middle School, the Baker Road Educational Center, and two who check in on all of the Elementary Schools.