Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Southlake Police Awarded “2021 Texas SRO Agency of the Year”

The Southlake Police Department has been awarded by TASRO as the Agency of the Year 2020-2021.  Corporal Blas Hernandez and Officer Kim Smith represented the department on July 5th in San Antonio, during the Texas Association of School Resource Officers conference (TASRO).

On the opening day of the 2013-2014 CISD school year, the City of Southlake Police Department, in conjunction with the Carroll Independent School District Administration, began an unprecedented new program that provided every campus within the district a uniformed Police Officer. The School Resource Officers (SROs) visibility and role as a first responder has eased concerns of students, parents, and school staff. Tragically in today’s era, violence knows no boundaries. Our children are not safeguarded by the area in which they live, the social economic status of our community, or of the diligence in which their parents strive to protect them. Witnessing these heartbreaking catastrophes occur throughout our nation, Southlake leaders took a proactive, rather than reactive, approach.

The Southlake Police Officers meet the highest standards, with specialized training, and a specific set of skills. The Southlake SRO Program utilizes the NASRO triad concept with our Officers practicing as Educators, Informal Counselors, and Law Enforcement Officers. The program has been involved with NASRO as well as TASRO by becoming members, practitioners, and attending conferences and trainings. SROs have found it beneficial to connect with SROs from other departments as well as NASRO and TASRO regional directors.

The Southlake Police SRO program evolved into one that will no doubt be an example that other agencies and school districts will follow. The relationships built on a daily basis, exist only because of the support of our City Council, Police Department, CISD Leaders and staff, parents, and children, will have a positive impact for many years to come. Due to this groundbreaking program, students can focus on education, not fear. Parents can drop their children off at school knowing there is a Police Officer on site to provide protection. School staff has a supportive resource to assist with safety presentations and intervention at the early signs of risk-taking behavior observed in students on every campus.

Congratulations to the SRO program for their exemplary work!

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