School Resource Officer
The School Resource Officer supports and facilitates the educational process within the Atlanta Public School System by providing a safe and secure environment through building and establishing meaningful relationships with students and staff and proactively interacting with the school community to ensure the enforcement of city and state laws, preservation of public order, protection of life and the prevention, detection, or investigation of crime. The incumbent will work effectively with students, parents, school personnel, and community agencies to support teaching and learning in the schools and patrol district property to protect students, staff, and visitors from physical harm and prevent loss to district property resulting from criminal activity. Incumbents may spend extended periods of time patrolling and investigating crimes on District property, both in automobiles and on foot. Incumbents may be required to restrain parties involved in conflict physically. In extreme cases, the incumbent may be exposed to violent and/or armed confrontations.
Essential Duties:
- Conducts routine patrols of assigned facilities to include buildings, parking lots, and district-owned, leased, or rented property for suspicious activity, unauthorized persons, or unauthorized entry after hours, taking law enforcement action when necessary
- Provides in-service training to administrators to deal with security-related matters, develop and maintain safety protocol and procedures, and serves as a wrap-around services team member to support student success
- Works closely with the principal and staff of the school to foster a better understanding of the law enforcement function to maintain a secure learning environment
- Serves as a visible and active law enforcement officer on campus dealing with law-related areas such as drugs, traffic, trespassing, fighting, and thefts and enforces campus rules and regulations
- Makes arrests only when necessary to protect school property
- Operates district equipment to include alarm systems, surveillance equipment, and patrol unit vehicles when necessary
- Identifies and prevents, through counseling and referral, delinquent behavior, including substance abuse
- Manages behavior of victims, witnesses, and others when handling or responding to incidents
- Works collaboratively with public safety agencies to serve as a liaison between school and community to deter criminal and delinquent behavior
- Conducts courses and workshops for students, staff, and parents to promote social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making
- Coordinates security for crowd and vehicle control at extra-curricular activities and special events
- Assists other law enforcement agencies with incidents involving local criminal activity that may impact the safety of the environment for students and staff
- Serves as the initial first responder and school safety coordinator for campus emergencies
- Prepares written reports, maintains daily logs, and obtains and serves arrest and search warrants as necessary; testifies in court as required
- Subdues offenders and criminals by using the minimum amount of force needed to protect the officer and other persons
- Provides protection and transportation to and from pre-designated places for Board Members and district administrators
- Works flexible hours, evenings and staggered shifts, holidays and weekends, and/or in emergency situations and to direct traffic/pedestrians crossing busy streets around schools or on school grounds when necessary
- Performs other duties as assigned by appropriate administrator
Required to attend scheduled shift during regular business hours as mandated
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of Georgia Criminal and Traffic Code, City and County Ordinances, Criminal Procedures, Juvenile Law and court proceedings
- Ability to work with youth and adults in the school setting
- Ability to investigate suspicious circumstances, persons, vehicles, etc.
- Proficient with Microsoft Suite and other office equipment such as incident reporting software, fax, copiers, and scanners
- Ability to apply critical thinking skills, using sound judgment, in rendering solutions to various issues that arise in the schools
- Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with students, staff, and internal/external stakeholders
Minimum Work Requirement:
Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred
Certification/License: Valid Georgia driver's license is required. Georgia PSC clearance certificate is required. Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) certification preferred. Certification as a Peace Officer must be completed within one year of appointment
Work Experience: 2 years of work experience in law enforcement with a traditional law enforcement agency or school environment preferred
Physical Abilities and Working Conditions:
The Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment listed in this section are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment which may be required of positions in this class. Atlanta Public Schools encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment in this class and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Human Resources Department for further information.
Compensation: Hourly Rate: $40.00/hour. Salary Range: Salary Schedules Atlanta Public Schools
