What do School Security Guards Do?

A resource officer for school security has many different duties. They interact with all members of the school community. They do much more than just monitor and address hostile situations. Some duties of the school resource officer include:

• Working with school administrators to ensure a safe school environment
• Enforcing state and local laws as well as school policies
• Building relationships with students to prevent juvenile delinquency
• Patrolling the school and grounds and addressing anything suspicious
• Attending and participating in school events to be visible to students, faculty, parents and other members of the school community
• Working with teachers to plan and teach lessons in safety and law
• Addressing crisis or emergency situations if they are ever to occur
• Helping with conflict resolution between students
• Acting as a positive role model to the students
• Making referrals to outside agencies if necessary
• Cooperating with local police officers and other officials as needed

Unlike other security positions, the school resource officer works in one setting: the school. That means they can build relationships with the students and staff. Those relationships help them do their jobs even better. When a school resource officer has positive relationships with the entire school community, they can help facilitate greater trust within the entire organization.

Why Would You Need School Protection in Colorado Springs?

School resource officers’ presence and activity in schools often bring many benefits.

Security guards for schools keep schools safe, which gives peace of mind to the entire school community. Whether you’re a parent, student, teacher, principal, or member of the school board, knowing that there is a security guard for the school makes you feel better.

Teachers know they won’t be expected to handle difficult situations with the school resource officer present, so they can focus on what they do — teaching kids what they need to know to succeed later in life. The students will feel safe, too, and they can better focus on the material in class.

If a school doesn’t have a resource officer, it’s the job of the principal, teachers and counselors to address bad behavior. This can be difficult for them because they have many other duties and responsibilities. When the school resource officer is there, the officer can take on the responsibility of addressing negative behavior and delinquency. The other staff members can then give more attention to their own responsibilities.

School resource officers also act as role models and unofficial counselors. Through these roles, the officers build better relationships with students. The school resource officers can help students make better decisions and help with any other issues they may be going through. Building relationships with students make school resource officers seem more approachable, and by association, students may develop better relationships with police as well.

In many communities, there is distrust between residents and police. Having a school resource officer could help these communities better understand each other and improve those relationships.

The school resource officer should also be part of what’s in the job title — a resource. These officers have a great deal of training and knowledge about safety and law. School resource officers can work with teachers to help plan and teach lessons directly in the classroom. Students can benefit from these lessons as they grow older and can make smart decisions when it comes to their safety and the safety of others.

The school resource officer is also there to be a first responder in an emergency or crisis situation. Having someone at the school with special training is helpful because it cuts down the amount of time it takes to react to the situation. Without a school safety officer, the school would have to wait for the arrival of police and other emergency personnel.

If you believe these points would help, consider bringing in a resource officer for your school’s security.

Choose Brick Lanes Security for School Security Services in Colorado Springs

Brick Lanes Security cares about your school’s safety. Our Colorado Springs school protection team is made up of young professionals who have made it their career to keep others safe and out of harm’s way. Our young and high-energy officers are perfect for the school environment.

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School safety is a vital consideration in the United States — especially as it pertains to gun violence. Children’s lives are at risk as the number of school shootings has maintained a steady upward trajectory for more than a decade. Families demand solutions. One of the most prominent school safety solutions on the table is staffing schools with armed security guards. While the topic is contentious, many remain firm that we need armed security guards in schools.

Are Schools Safer With Armed Guards?

The debate over placing armed security guards or school resource officers (SROs) in schools revolves around safety. Advocates believe armed SROs will give students a fighting chance in the event of a shooting.

Research into the topic leaves room for discussion. Those who disagree with the solution cite studies that purport armed security officers detract from school safety and result in more casualties after the incident begins. Other studies contend that the presence of armed security risks the overall quality of education by drastically increasing punitive actions that remove students from the classroom.

However, other research links SROs with a decline in various forms of school violence and increased detection of firearms — outcomes that make schools safer for students and staff. Additionally, the same researchers who claim armed security makes schools less safe concede that their research cannot account for instances where SROs prevented shootings from occurring, nor does it consider important community characteristics. Armed security could stop some of the most deadly situations before they begin.

Parents and Educators Want Armed Security Guards in Schools

The research around armed school security often deviates from public perception. It is clear that physical bullying and gun violence have become prevalent public safety concerns in recent years. Such safety concerns lead many to believe that schools should have armed guards. One survey found that over 85% of middle and high school teachers feel safer with an SRO on campus.

Voters and legislators nationwide echo the sentiment that armed school security is a requirement in Texas schools. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania legislators passed a bill that would mandate at least one armed SRO in all schools. A poll shows that 69% of Pennsylvania voters support the idea. In Colorado, the decision to staff armed SROs is up to the district, but even Denver schools that removed armed security officers are bringing them back.

9 Reasons Why Schools Should Have Armed Guards

There are a wide variety of reasons to hire an armed school security guard. These nine main benefits reveal why district leaders should consider armed SROs as a school safety solution.

1. Reliable school surveillance: Armed SROs provide a full-time security monitoring solution during school hours.
2. Effective crime deterrence: The presence of armed security can deter potential offenders.
3. Timely incident response: On-campus security guards are on the scene faster than local law enforcement.
4. Reduced incident impact: SROs are trained to de-escalate conflicts of any magnitude.
5. Friendlier student relations: Armed school officers can reduce bullying.
6. Enhanced law education: SROs build relationships with students that help them understand and follow the law.
7. Comprehensive emergency solutions: Armed school security guards can also respond to various medical emergencies and mental health dilemmas.
8. Vigilant entry screening: SROs work to ensure any person or item that enters the building is safe for students.
9. Greater peace of mind: Armed security can help students, faculty and parents feel at ease during the school day.

Vigilant Tiger Provides Armed Security for Schools

Businesses and schools throughout Colorado choose Vigilant Tiger Services. Our founder, Donny Hamilton, is a retired United States Army captain and Special Forces operative who instills military values into everything we do. Our extensively trained security guards have CPR and basic life support certifications and pass full background checks. Many also hold Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certifications. Bolstering safety is essential given today’s violence statistics, and Vigilant Tiger is equipped to help. Give us a call at (302) 602-4874 or contact us online to discuss your options.

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