School resource officer program teaches students about general safety and stranger awareness.
By: Melissa Hayes
The school resource officer program, now in its sixth year, has been rousing success, school and police officials say.
The SRO program was created by then-Police Chief Michael Paquette and falls under the umbrella of Safe and Caring Schools, an initiative started in 1998 by then-Superintendent Sam Stewart, said George Scott, school district director of student services.
The idea behind the initiative was that students can learn and grow only in a safe and caring school system, Mr. Scott said.
Depending on the grade level, officers teach courses on general safety, stranger awareness, general policing and prevention, which includes lessons on substance abuse, violence, bullying and sexual harassment.
Sgt. Joe Charmello oversees the SRO program and doesn’t hesitate to brag about how well known and recognized it is.
It was given the Model SRO Agency Award for 2004 from the National Association of School Resource Officers.
It takes a lot of work to be considered for the award, Sgt. Charmello said. The Police Department must provide the association with a detailed account of its staff, funding, curriculum, extra curricular activities, program plans, current assignments, training and reference letters.
"We met all their criteria," he said.
Acting Gov. Richard Codey is pushing for schools to complete safety audits by September, getting involved with it after a visit to South Brunswick to observe the SRO program, Sgt. Charmello said.
"Our department was influential in getting that started," he said.
There are six SROs serving the schools, including Patrol Officer John Penney, who is returning to Crossroads South to replace Sgt. Jeff Karpisak, who was promoted recently. Officer Penney served as an SRO for a year before returning to road patrol.
Prior to going back on patrol, Officer Penney was an elementary school SRO.
All of the officers involved in the program are quick to say their duties go beyond law enforcement.
"We’re unique that way. We go teach classes," said Patrol Officer Pete Burdick, SRO for Crossroads South.
Officer Burdick is in his second year as an SRO.
Patrol Officer Gene Rickle, who floats between the elementary schools, talks to fourth- and fifth-graders about collecting evidence and investigative techniques such as fingerprinting.
"We make educational recommendations for courses," Officer Rickle said. "We talk to kids about what police officers really do, we talk about safety."
This is Officer Rickle’s second year as an SRO. He said that when working with elementary students it is important for him to be visible to get them to trust and feel comfortable around police officers.
"They always like to see an officer in the hallways. They come over and say hello," he said. "They’re able to form their own decisions. They get the opportunity to open up and trust police officers."
Patrol Officer Joe Halmi has been a SRO since the program’s inception. He floats between the elementary and middle schools and said he serves as a mentor to a handful of students.
"I’m a positive role model. I’ll eat lunch with them, play cards, form a good relationship," he said.
Patrol Officers Jeff Russo and Bob Carinci are stationed at the high school.
Officer Russo said the two don’t get into the classroom as much as the other officers, but they do lend a hand when teachers ask for help.
"We get very busy at times and can’t be as proactive as we would like to be," Officer Russo said.
The two officers also offer suggestions to the high school’s four Crime Scene Investigation classes. The officers organized a visit from a sketch artist from the Middlesex County sheriff’s office and from a member of the Secret Service who spoke about counterfeit money.
Officer Russo said they also were able to teach students about firearms ballistics.
This is Officer Russo’s second year as an SRO and Officer Carinici’s fourth.
When school lets out in the summer, the officers run a Junior Police Academy, participate in National Night Out and Community Unity Day, among other things.
Sgt. Charmello, who was an SRO for three years, sits on the executive board of the National Association of School Resource Officers and teaches the basic SRO class to officers. This summer the Police Department will be hosting an SRO academy, offering supervisory and advanced courses to train area officers and additional South Brunswick officers.
Under the leadership of Officer Rickle, the SROs are conducting school security surveys, an initiative that came down from the governor’s office.
"We’re currently doing a new series of security surveys, trying to make the schools safer," Officer Rickle said.
The 15-page surveys are completed on-site at each school. Officer Rickle said there is a checklist that identifies things that pose a danger to students, staff and the building.
Surveys for all of the buildings should be completed by June, in time to give the recommendations to the school board before next school year.
Superintendent Gary McCartney said he is very happy with the way the program has developed.
"We’re tickled with what the partnership it allows and to be able to work together in a relationship that is as helpful as this one is," he said. "It’s really the way you’d plan it if you could. I’m pleased. I think the officers have worked hard to make it what it is. Certainly the police leadership has a lot of vision for bringing a program like this about."
Before his retirement April 8, former Police Chief Michael Paquette spoke about the program, which he said he was instrumental in starting.
"I’m very proud of how the program turned out. How couldn’t you be. We’re the model program in the nation," he said. "In the beginning, people tried to discuss if we needed something like this and now we’re number one."