Salary: $43,050.00 – $50,000.00 Annually

Position Summary:

The City of Roanoke is seeking Virginia DCJS certified Law Enforcement Officers to serve as a School Resource Officers (SRO) for the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office. The School Resource Officer is responsible for interacting with the police staff, school faculty, school administration and staff, parents, and students in the Roanoke City School system to lead and educate students, promote safety, and promote positive police/community relationships. The officer is responsible for one school in the Roanoke City school system. The officer serves as a law enforcement officer, teacher, role model, and counselor to and for the students The SRO works with diverse groups of people. A majority of the time is spent in environmentally controlled classroom settings, although assignment outdoors in various weather conditions may occur. Stressors in the assignment include interaction with openly hostile students or parents, requirements to meet deadlines, and the responsibility for a large number of students with a wide variety of concerns. The SRO is responsible for preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting criminal violations on Roanoke City School property or events. The work hours for elementary schools are 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and will follow the Roanoke City Public Schools calendar schedule. Work hours are subject to being flexed, which includes but is not limited to dances, athletic events, and shift extensions.

Essential Functions:

Foster educational programs/activities to increase each student’s knowledge of and respect for the law and the function of law enforcement;
Attend extracurricular activities held at the District’s schools within the City, when feasible, and promote a positive relationship between students and law enforcement officials;
Understand school policies regarding how to distinguish disciplinary infractions to be handled by school officials versus criminal activity that warrants SRO involvement;
Review enforcement and investigative techniques at local schools and work with District personnel to provide in-service training to staff with regard to crisis management and school security;
Work with the District’s personnel to advise concerning vehicular and traffic safety on and around the school campuses;
Act swiftly and cooperatively when responding to disruptions and criminal offenses at school or on school grounds, such as: disorderly conduct by trespassers; the possession and/or use of weapons on campus; the possession, sale, distribution or use of alcohol or controlled substances; rioting or dangerous demonstrations; serious acts of vandalism; etc.;
Make reports of criminal offenses as per Department regulations as warranted, and investigate such acts that may occur at schools;
Provide assistance to other officers of the Department or other law enforcement agencies in their investigations of criminal offenses which are alleged to occur off campus, but may be related to school activities;
Familiarize themselves with the many issues confronting students, e.g., alcohol and drug use, gang involvement, weapons, bullying, and teenage suicide;
Provide direct intervention to children who are victims, witnesses, or perpetrators of violent crime;
Participate in SRO Program evaluation by providing data and assisting with analysis and recommendations through partnership meetings;
Provide assistance in the development of a Safe School Plan and crisis preparedness guidelines for schools;
Define safety and security measures, as needed, within the schools and assist with implementation. The services performed by the SRO are not intended to supplant those provided by existing District security personnel;
Handle the primary responsibility of responding to calls for service and investigating crimes at all Roanoke City Public Schools campuses within the City;
Conduct follow-up on reports taken by patrol officers when appropriate;
Establish genuine rapport between students, faculty and parents while being available to students, parents and faculty before, during and after school;
Provide a safe, healthy and secure environment on campus and in the immediate proximity of the campus;
Provide routine marked police car patrol and foot patrol during the most critical times to discourage unlawful and antisocial behavior;
Provide intelligence to law enforcement and school officials relative to gang or drug activities and enforcement;
Give educational presentations to student body, faculty, administration, PTSA and other school-based groups relative to laws, the role of law enforcement and other applicable subjects;
Serve as a resource for Roanoke City Public Schools and the Department by providing safety programs, special drug education classes and juvenile gang awareness and prevention programs in the schools and assisting staff with presentations and instruction in developing age-appropriate curriculum;
Train school administrators and faculty on gangs, youth subcultures and substance abuse;
Train Department personnel on the role of the SRO and on school issues important for officers to know;
Be a liaison for the school, police and probation, and the community to keep all informed of activities of others who may be at risk or inclined to cause problems Sample SRO Job Description.docx 4 or commit crimes;
Assist police investigators with information that will help solve cases;
Help school staff in lessening campus tension and provide assistance to campus supervisors as needed;
Consider diversion opportunities for youth, rather than arrest, when appropriate;
Use discretion in handling confidential material and information;
Use the resources provided for the prevention, observation, intervention, investigation, and reporting of unlawful acts;
As needed, attend District activities outside of the regular duty hours.
Coordinate all activities with the principals and staff members concerned and seek permission, advice and guidance prior to enacting any program within the school.
Grow professionally through study and participation in professional activities, including recommended SRO trainings, including the California POST required/recommended SRO training/certification.

Requirements:

Must have successfully completed basic law enforcement academy, the probationary period as a law enforcement officer, and be DCJS law enforcement certified in Virginia.
SRO Certification preferred but not required.
Associate’s degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school with a major in social or police science desirable but not required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Possession of a valid appropriate driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Holds current Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Law Enforcement certification.
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services related trainings to obtain SRO certification will be provided if needed.

Roanoke Police Department

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