School Resource Officers

Dave Sabel and Frank Wierzbanowski are school based Everest Metro law enforcement officers working as partners with the D.C. Everest School District to protect students, school faculty and staff and the schools they attend.

About the SRO Program:

Within our society, the school holds a central place among agencies which affect the ideas and activities of children. Beyond the family, they are the first institution which has the opportunity to perceive and analyze the problems of children, It is logical, therefore, that if outward symptoms of anti-social behavior (delinquency) are discernable at the school level, then it is appropriate to implement a program aimed primarily at prevention of this behavior through education, communication, and understanding between the school/youth/police and the community (i.e., Police School Resource Officer Program).

The concept of the Police School Resource Officer Program may be defined within several areas. He/She is visualized as a counselor, referral agent, and educational aide, in addition to being a law enforcement officer, who by definition has an obligation to serve, protect, and uphold the law. In the performance of the first role, it is felt by police, students, and educators alike that the resource officer should fulfill an important task as a resident friend, counselor, and listener to youth with personal problems which they could bring to him/her. This role is not carried out in competition with the authorized guidance counselors in the school. Everything should be done in close cooperation with them.

The second role is that of being a referral agent. The Police School Resource Officer should be intimately acquainted with the kinds of help that are available on the local level to young people and their families. A major part of his/her helping function would be to get people in contact with helping agencies that can aid them in matters which are beyond the Police School Resource Officer's depth to solve. Frequently, this will involve a "shared client" relationship with the school counselor.

In his/her third role, the Police School Resource Officer may serve an educational function by assisting in the provision of courses of study designed to acquaint students with the law, the ways in which it operates on the local/state level, and how it touches their lives.

The fourth role is that of a law enforcement officer. In this role, the officer would ensure the safety of the students, staff, and visitors in the schools and would uphold the law.

A certified law enforcement officer who is permanently assigned to provide coverage to a school or a set of schools. The SRO is specifically trained to perform three roles: law enforcement officer; law-related counselor; and law-related education teacher. The SRO is not necessarily a DARE officer (although many have received such training), security guard, or officer who has been placed temporarily in a school in response to a crisis situation but rather acts as a comprehensive resource for his/her school. In partnership with the D.C. Everest Area School District For questions or concerns regarding the program contact School Resource Officer's Dave Sabel or Frank Wierzbanowski at 359-4202.