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Overview | School Resource Officers (SRO) Overview Collaboration between Law Enforcement Officers and Schools is an important step in increasing school safety. The concept of having Valparaiso Police Officers involved with schools stems from the practice of Community Policing. Community Policing utilizes the assistance of community members in identifying and prioritizing problems and developing solutions. In our school safety program, members of the school community partner with Law Enforcement Officers assigned to their school in order to create a setting that is Safe and Secure, with a focus on early intervention activities. School Resource Officers (SRO)
The concept of having police officers in schools has actually been around since the 1950’s in communities all across America. In the late 1970’s, the Valparaiso Police Department begin by partnering with the Valparaiso School System and assigning Detectives to act as Liaison Officers within the High School. In 1997, the Valparaiso Police Department assigned its first SRO to the Valparaiso High School. Starting in 1999, Valparaiso has had two SRO’s assigned to the school system, one to assist at the High School and Alternative School, and one to assist within the city’s two middle schools. Currently, the Valparaiso Police Department has assigned Sergeant Steve Jackson and Lieutenant Ed Blakley to the positions of School Resource Officers. Sergeant Jackson works closely with students and staff at Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin Middle Schools and all of Valparaiso’s Elementary Schools. Lieutenant Ed Blakley is assigned full-time at Valparaiso High School. Their full-time presence inside the schools is a large reason students and faculty openly communicate with the police department. Open communication provides trust in law enforcement, security in the schools, and a friend to many of the students that have attended the schools. Sergeant Jackson was assigned to the position of School Resource Officer in the summer of 2004. He was trained at the NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) training conference in Phoenix, Arizona. He served his first year as SRO at the Valparaiso High School in 2004-2005. He was then assigned to cover both Middle Schools in a proactive effort in 2005 and currently maintains offices at both sites. Sergeant Jackson serves in many capacities throughout the school day; however his primary duty is to protect the school, staff and students from harm. Sergeant Jackson investigates criminal acts within the school system and crimes within the community that are school related. His presence also acts as a deterrent for delinquent and inappropriate behavior, and provides a safe learning environment for the students and teachers. Lieutenant Blakley was assigned to the position of School Resource Officer in the summer of 2010. He is a 25 year veteran of the Valparaiso Police Department and has worked closely with high school personnel and students for numerous years. Lt. Blakley prior to this assignment was the Field Training Officer Coordinator and Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor. Lieutenant Blakley investigates criminal acts within the school system and crimes within the community that are school related. His presence also acts as a deterrent for delinquent and inappropriate behavior, and provides a safe learning environment for the students and teachers. Sergeant Jackson and Lieutenant Blakley provide many presentations to students in the school system on a variety of topics ranging from bullying, internet safety, alcohol and drug abuse resistance, the dangers of underage drinking and smoking and the consequences of making poor decisions. Students and Staff are frequently given reminders and awareness of safety concerns that occur throughout the school year with an emphasis on crime prevention. Lieutenant Blakley and Sergeant Jackson can be contacted during the school day at:
G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training)
Sergeant Steve Jackson and Sergeant Mike Grennes are certified G.R.E.AT. Instructors and teach the G.R.E.A.T. classes to seventh graders at Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Immanuel Lutheran and St. Paul’s Middle Schools. The G.R.E.A.T. program is a 13-week interactive life-skills building program that has been taught in the Valparaiso School System since 1993. The program provides our youth with the necessary skills and information to avoid gangs, drug abuse, crime and violence and become responsible members of our society. The instructors utilize proven teaching techniques such as cooperative learning and interactive discussion to facilitate student’s learning. The program continues to be successful and each year hundreds of students are taught and graduate from the program. As an incentive for good behavior and program completion, graduating students are allowed to attend the G.R.E.A.T. graduation party, where police officers and staff join with students in a safe evening of fun and celebration. A local DJ provides music and entertainment along with access to swimming, basketball, volleyball, dancing and carnival rides. The Valparaiso High School gymnasium, swimming facility and field house are used to provide an excellent opportunity for police officers, school staff, students and parents to come together and interact in an informal setting. To learn more about the G.R.E.A.T. program, please ask us. Adopt-A-School Program Formed in 2005, the program is designed for students, faculty and Valparaiso Police to form a partnership with each other. Through the program, officers become familiar with the building, faculty and students. When officers spend time with the students, they build positive relationships at a young age. These types of relationships can last a lifetime for both officers and students. Officers receive a designated school and, routinely throughout the school year, visit students during lunch periods and recess. The visits are made throughout the week and encourage students to visit with the officer and ask many questions. Officers are available to conduct safety lectures during class time at a teacher’s request. The Valparaiso Police Adopt-a-School Program not only helps form connections between law enforcement and the schools, it also keeps our children safer by having additional patrol officers present at times throughout the school day. Currently, several dedicated officers have adopted each of the city’s eight Elementary Schools. Sergeant Jackson and Sergeant Grennes also oversee the program and assist the Middle Schools and the High School. For additional information about the Adopt-A-School program, please ask us.
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