The Erie County Sheriff’s Office works with area school districts to place deputies in schools to serve as school resource officers.
School resource officers work with school administrators on keeping students and staff safe. They provide security, work on establishing preventive measures, and ensure that a first responder is always available.
School resource officers also take a proactive approach to violence prevention, conflict resolution and peer mediation, offering tools for students and staff to cope with concerns facing today’s young people.
School resource officers work with parent organizations, attend sporting events and provide educational programs.
The program began in Erie County in 2002, after the Erie County Sheriff’s Office received a COPS grant from the U.S. Justice Department to fund the placement of four deputy sheriffs in four school districts: Harbor Creek, General McLane, North East and Northwestern. It was the first sheriff’s office in the state to receive this grant.
Currently, there are 5 Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies serving as school resource officers.