School Resource Officers

SRO
SRO McDermott, Sergeant Chapman, SRO Pereira

The School Resource Officers (SROs) are assigned to the Community Services Division under the supervision of the Community Services Sergeant, Will Chapman.

School Resource Officers (SROs) are full-time, sworn, veteran members of the Police Department who are specially trained and selected officers who have specific training and skills in areas including but not limited to: Youth in crisis, adolescent mental health, campus safety, juvenile law, school climate and culture.  SROs assist members of the department in the prevention of crime, particularly on school grounds. They have the mission of coordinating the department's overall effort concerning community schools, the training of department and Board of Education personnel in the more specialized aspects of campus crime prevention and investigation and coordination of joint programs sponsored by the department and the Board of Education. SROs also help monitor investigations and/or other law enforcement action involving students who are complainants or victims.  Within a year of appointment, Newtown SROs are certified by the National Association of School Resource Officers.

School Resource Officers' Duties

Our School Resource Officers practice the NASRO "Triad" model of school policing. It divides the school resource officer (SRO) responsibilities into three areas: teacher, informal counselor, and law enforcement officer. By training law enforcement to educate, counsel, and protect school communities, the men and women of NASRO continuously lead by example and promote a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities. 

The Police Department assigns SROs to Newtown Middle School and Newtown High School, but will frequently visit all Newtown Public and private schools and engage with students and staff.

  

Newtown Middle School Resource Officer: 

Fernando Pereira

Newtown High School Resource Officer:

Stephanie McDermott