With the start of the new school year, SROs (School Resource Officers) are returning to school campuses in Allen Parish. This is the third year for the program, which is funded by the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Allen Parish School Board.
“The main duty of our SROs is protection of schools, students and staff,” Chief Deputy Blair Fontenot said.
The program provides one SRO for each community – Kinder, Reeves, Oberlin, Elizabeth and Fairview. The deputies try to visit each campus daily in their assigned communities when multiple campuses exist. They provide security and mingle with the students, attend athletic events and other extra-curricular activities.
Fontenot said a big plus for the SRO program is that officers are on campus when events happen that require their attention. He said SROs also deal with false threats, assist with problems like bullying, fighting, etc. They are not there to discipline; only to assist the school’s administration.
“It allows us to have people there immediately,” he said. The program also allows the sheriff’s office to coordinate and work with other law enforcement agencies and the board in an effort to handle things quickly.”
Having people on campus gives the community and campus a sense of relief that law enforcement is on hand to help and evaluate situations.
The sheriff’s office is happy with the program. Feedback from the community, as well as the school, has been great.
“The cooperation with the school board is amazing,” Fontenot said, also explaining this is why this program works for the parish. Having a SRO officer in the community is beneficial to everyone.
All SRO officers are post certified, like deputies in the sheriff’s office. During the summer, they attend training beneficial to their position as an SRO officer.
Fontenot said when the sheriff’s office hires an SRO, they are using a different sort of evaluation. They are looking for personality, someone who can relate to kids, etc. He said this group is excited with the start of the new school year. He said it is pleasing to see these SROs take ownership of their schools, get involved and become a part of the school community. SROs like to meet students and educators, and they like to learn about what students are doing.
Robert Turner, who has over 12 years of DARE officer training, oversees the SRO program. He said Turner already has a relationship with the schools through his DARE teachings, and now, he is cementing that relationship. When something occurs on a campus, Fontenot said you can bet Turner is there or enroute. Fontenot said Turner is always there to assist his SRO officers.
The parish is in good hands thanks to the work and compact agreement to provide an extra-level to the schools by the board and the sheriff’s office.