Webmaster
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Unit Commander
910-798-4227 Main 910-798-4230 FAX |
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New Hanover County expanded their School Resource Officer (SRO) program in 1997. This project has been very successful. As of now, we have 22 full time SROs. The purpose of the School Resource Officer is to be a peace officer by maintaining security and order on campus with the legal authority to arrest if required. The SRO is a resource officer in areas of Law Enforcement Education that can be applied to the classroom. When asked, the SRO develops various classroom presentations on a variety of subjects from substance abuse, youth and violence, gangs, motor vehicle law and safe driving, juvenile law, etc. and is available to the faculty of their school to address student classrooms when requested.
Finally, the SRO can and does play the role as counselor, by mediating, listening and assisting students with various problems. This approach enables the SRO to be a positive Law Enforcement role model and use proactive prevention by exposing the human qualities of law enforcement to our youth and giving them a trustworthy friend to depend on.
The SRO Unit teaches the D.A.R.E. to the 5th grade. The D.A.R.E. curriculum is designed to be taught by law enforcement officers whose training and experience give them the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about drugs and crime. Prior to entering the D.A.R.E. program, officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communication skills. D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives children the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities.
The SRO unit is now teaching the G.R.E.A.T. program to the 6th grade. The G.R.E.A.T. middle school curriculum is a skills-based curriculum designed to produce knowledge and attitudinal and behavioral changes through the use of facilitative teaching, positive behavior rehearsal, cooperative and interactive learning techniques, and extended teacher activities. The curriculum has integrated National Learning English Language Arts Standards and National Health Standards and is based on effective research practices. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems. During the summer, SROs participate in the ‘S.A.F.E. Summer Program’. In this program, the SROs work hand-in-hand with rising 6th grade students who graduated the Elementary D.A.R.E. Program to show them how to have a fun summer without drugs and violence. It gives the students an opportunity to interact and have fun with the Deputies on a casual basis, creating a greater bond between them and law enforcement.
Both Make a Child Smile and S.A.F.E. Summer are made possible through donations, the hard work of the SROs and the support of Sheriff McMahon. If you have any questions about the SRO Unit or would like to donate to Make a Child Smile or S.A.F.E. Summer, please contact us at 910-798-4227 or 910-798-4226. Links of Interest: New Hanover County Schools - Home Page G.R.E.A.T. Program - Gang Resistance Education And Training Center for the Prevention of School Violence |
During Christmas time, the SRO Unit
does a program called ‘Make a Child
Smile’. We ask the counselors or
social workers from our elementary
schools for the names of needy
children. The SRO Unit adopts these
children out to other county
employees and individuals who
receive a list with the child’s age,
sex, sizes and a preferred gift.
Then, one night close to Christmas,
we invite the selected children and
their families to join us. We
provide refreshments and soon after
everyone finishes, Santa arrives!
He always brings his favorite book
“Twas the Night Before Christmas” to
read to the children. After this,
Santa calls each child up one at a
time and presents them with their
very special Christmas gifts.
