Controversy Over Loganville SRO Program Needs Community Input And Involvement

On Thursday, September 12,  a Loganville City Council meeting will take place at 7:30 in the council chambers of Loganville City Hall (located at 4385 Pecan Street) to decide the fate of Loganville School Resource Officers for our local schools. Some have mentioned money being an issue and many are concerned despite assurances that they will most likely renew the program. Community support would be greatly appreciated and is also a good opportunity for parents to find out more about what it takes to keep these vital programs afloat.  

Since I am in full support of our current SRO program, I'd like to share some information that many may not know about these very important members of our school system. My first introduction to Patch was an article I wrote on Loganville School Resource Officers. I worked with them at the time, and as a person who has worked with at-risk kids for nearly twenty years, I’ve got to tell you, I was impressed by the relationship that I witnessed between the kids and the Resource Officers, and the ensuing results that came from it. Impressed, because in my line of business, kids that get into trouble many times do not have much regard for the Police. But SRO’s are different. They spend time with the kids, getting to know them and in the event of a crisis, have an upper hand in dealing with volatile issues as they arise. In fact, when a crisis does arise, you and I will probably never hear much about it because they have a way of putting out a fire before it can spread into something that involves help from the outside. But that’s not all they do.

Loganville provides some of the best and most unique resources and opportunities available for parents in the state of Georgia. When it comes to successful interventions and programs that help youth, Loganville rates at the top - even nationally. In 2010, Loganville’s LPDSRO Unit was recognized by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) as a top model for School Resource Units in the nation. That means that others can, and probably will, model their programs after ours.

 The small town community involvement that I find in Loganville is very unique. It is truly unprecedented the cooperation that occurs between school, the courts, and law enforcement. And right in the middle - the community of people that make it work. Ask Loganville High School SRO Dustin Peterson, or any parent who has had a child in Police Explorers. Peterson shares his thoughts on the success of the program. He says that:

    “Many skills such as leadership, responsibility, law enforcement protocols, as well as many others are developed through the program to help the explorer become successful in their future endeavors. Practical exercises accompany all topics so that the explorer has hands on experience of what they may encounter in the field.”

The LPD Police Explorer Program has been around for over 7 years. During this time, over 200 young adults in the community have participated in the program with many of those students going on to serve their communities in public safety and armed forces service.

Most people have no idea how much our police force in Loganville does, especially the Community Policing Division (CPD) headed up by Lieutenant Joseph Cantrell of the Loganville Police Department. The CPD is responsible for the Neighborhood Watch Programs set up in nearly every neighborhood in the city, and bicycle patrols for community organizations such as parades. They are available to instruct concerning the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) programs that have seen cuts in Georgia in past years. When not instructing children in the schools, SRO Officer Bob Gilbert can be found providing gang awareness to groups of concerned parents on the campuses of Loganville schools.

A year ago this past July, you could find them four nights a week working with at-risk kids in the 21st Century Juvenile Court Boot Camp Program. It received A+ ratings and rave reviews from local parents who had utilized its services. It was unique in its partnership between school, court system and police divisions, something critical to the success of programs that serve youth; especially at-risk youth. Site coordinator Lieutenant Joseph Cantrell stated:

     “It is unprecedented in the state to see cooperation like this between a juvenile court judge and a school superintendent. (WCPS Superintendent) Gary Hobbs is very supportive of law enforcement and Judge Rhymer is just as supportive of our schools.”

 Myself, I believe that it is the partnership and cooperation that makes it work. I can attest to that first hand: I was one of the Lieutenant's Instructors in the boot camp program.  I have seen firsthand how vital the relationship between instructor and cadet can be, especially if that instructor is a law officer. The rapport is critical _ especially when a child has had a negative experience due to his or her own unruly behavior or law breaking. The boot camp provided the opportunity to see the true intent of law enforcement which is to serve and protect.

 On several occasions, when dealing with a cadet with a problem, I immediately pooled my resources. There were PT Instructors, teachers that tutored in the program (some of whom knew the cadets as students), our site liaison who had access to the cadets school dealings (whether grades or behavior issues), probation officers, or the Resource Officer who was probably already aware of the issue I was dealing with at the moment. By the time a cadet got to me, he or she has probably already seen the SRO who was able to apprise me of vitally needed information to intervene in a crisis situation. My job was always secondary to theirs.

Most people think that school resource officers (SRO) sit around schools waiting for a crime to be committed; clearly, the most misunderstood character in a school! While an SRO is a fully trained police officer with arresting authority, their primary focus is working with the schools administration to maintain a safer learning environment.  A typical day for an SRO may include:

   1. Conflict intervention / resolution between students, providing advice to a troubled student

  2. Building a positive rapport with students at the school

  3. Consulting with school officials regarding issues at the school or in the community.

 4. At the bottom of the responsibilities an SRO has might be to investigate the circumstances surrounding a crime committed on the school grounds.

 When not educating students on law related topics in the classroom setting, an SRO spends a good deal of time in the community educating parents and others. I was a part of a program where Lieutenant Cantrell did just that, stepping outside of his jurisdiction to reach as many as possible. Walton County held a Parent Resource Fair, hosted by the Title I Program, 21st Century CCLC and the Department of Exceptional Education, at Youth Middle School. Cantrell and several of his staff attended. He and one of his instructors taught a class entitled, Tough Love: Surviving the Teen Years. We found out afterwards that out of close to twenty classes offered, “Tough Love” was the most largely attended.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise - parents are looking for answers. Things are changing rapidly and the time to offer concrete, long lasting solutions is now. Otherwise, Loganville could become a statistic.

 Loganville has always been an ideal place to settle down, raise kids and get involved with a great community; and it still is. However, as with any small town, growth brings its troubles, namely larger, more transient populations moving into schools and communities. If left unchecked, kids become at risk for behaviors that can endanger their safety and can escalate into criminal activity if not monitored carefully. Not all communities have the resources to meet the needs as they arise, and end up going down a very slippery path. But then, not all communities have the people, programs and teamwork that Loganville can brag about. However, that could change if money becomes an issue that stands in the way of renewing a good thing.

So, I urge you, as a parent with children in Walton County schools to get involved. Go to these meeting that concern our children. Raise your voice and ask questions – lots of them. Our children are our future and we need to stand together and do everything possible to keep them safe and well educated in regards to their personal safety.