School Resource Officer (SRO)

School Resource Officer (SRO)

Sheriffs Department

Location: West Caldwell High School

General Statement of Duties

A school resource officer under general supervision performs specialized law enforcement duties as a deputy sheriff in the prevention of criminal activity on the campuses of the Caldwell County Schools. This assignment requires additional knowledge, skills, and training in the area of juvenile law. Work involves the assignment to a school; cooperating and working closely with school administration and staff; developing a rapport with students, prevention, detection, and investigation of criminal activity; maintaining files and records of related cases for court and statistical information; making referrals to juvenile justice and other human service agencies; attends sporting events and special assignments for safety and security; frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness, and decisiveness. The school resource officer’s perform the general duties of a deputy sheriff after school recesses for year. In the chain of command they report to the DARE/SRO Sergeant in the patrol division.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties

Assumes responsibility for the safety and security of assigned school; Works with school administration to plan and develop strategies to prevent and/or minimize criminal acts and violence during the operation of school and related activities.

Conducts investigations; detects and apprehends delinquents and juvenile criminals; interviews witnesses; gathers and labels evidence; interrogates suspects and makes arrests; prepares investigation reports; maintains files and records for court, and daily and monthly activity reports for statistical information; completes reports to document juvenile cases and action taken; appears and testifies in court.

Develop a rapport with students through various programs and presentations including law related education, counseling, Explorers, and SADD/SAVE chapters; present themselves as a positive role model to build positive relationships with youth.

Make referrals to the Juvenile Justice System and other human service agencies in assisting youth, parents, and faculty; provide guidance and counseling to high risk youth; consult with parents of children involved in criminal and delinquent acts.

Provide a liaison between the sheriff’s office and the Caldwell County Board of Education.

Additional Duties

The performance of duties as a deputy sheriff and other related work in the patrol division as required.

Minimum Training and Experience

Graduation from high school supplemented by law enforcement training in juvenile law with a minimum of two years experience in general law enforcement work; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

Certification as a law enforcement officer in accordance with the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training and Standards Commission; Successful completion of School Resource Officer Training through the North Carolina Justice Academy; Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s License; physical ability as required in the performance of duties as a deputy sheriff. Within the first year you will be expected to complete twelve weeks of field training, a forty-hour SRO school and a eighty-hour DARE instructor course.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws relative to law enforcement, particularly in juvenile law and procedure.
• Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures, and investigation techniques as outlined in departmental policy.
• Knowledge of the Caldwell County Board of Education Policy.
• Knowledge of teaching techniques and educational procedures associated with juvenile prevention education programs and Drug Abuse Resistance Education.
• Skill in the use of all law enforcement equipment.
• Skill in organization and documentation of records and reports.
• Ability to plan and work independently.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and leadership in emergency and routine situations and adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with juveniles, their parents or guardians, school officials, human service agency representatives, the general public, and as otherwise necessitated by work assignments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED

TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, typewriters, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, calculators, postage machines, etc. Must be able to exert up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 15 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, forms, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, permits, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via a telephone.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of modern office practices and procedures. Has considerable knowledge of math, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Has considerable knowledge of County policies, programs and procedures. Is skilled in organizing workflow and coordinating activities. Is skilled in the operation of common office machines, including popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs. Is able to compile data from varied sources and complete complex reports from such information. Is able to compose effective correspondence. Is able to develop and modify work procedures, methods and processes to improve efficiency. Is able to establish and maintain complex records and files. Is able to type accurately at the speed required by the position. Is able to communicate effectively in oral and written form. Is able to exercise tact and courtesy in dealing with the public. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all County departments and divisions, co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under “Specific Duties and Responsibilities.”

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, county policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to County policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountability. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences is justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with County policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the department and project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the County. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, supervisor, professionals and the general public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establish a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the County and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly work place.