SOUTHLAKE, TX  – Kimberly Smith, school resource officer (SRO) at Southlake Police Department, was awarded “Texas Instructor of the Year” from L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence, and Matt Petrie, retired Southlake SRO, was awarded “L.E.A.D.er of the Year.” They were presented with the awards at L.E.A.D.’s ninth annual 21st Century Drug and Violence Prevention Training Conference in Orlando, Florida, due to their excellent work educating students on the proven effective curriculum implemented by L.E.A.D. and training folks across the country to become L.E.A.D. instructors, respectively.

“The awards given to SRO Smith and Mr. Petrie are well deserved. We congratulate them on their outstanding work helping to protect students from the dangers of drugs and violence and expand the network of people who are trained to teach our curriculum,” said Nick DeMauro, CEO of L.E.A.D. “They’re dedication towards emphasizing the importance of drug and violence prevention is helping us to continue accomplishing our goal of advancing police-community relationships.”

L.E.A.D. provides services “On The Street” and “In The Classroom” as it brings law enforcement and communities closer together. The “In The Classroom” program is taught by more than 5000 trained instructors in 45 states, who are serving more than 500,000 students in 2,500 school systems. L.E.A.D. has a proven-effective, law enforcement-focused anti-drug, anti-violence curriculum for K–12 students in the U.S. The L.E.A.D. curriculum is taught over the course of a 10-week program to educate youth on how they can make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs or violence.

Last school year, SRO Smith taught the L.E.A.D. curriculum to 161 fourth graders at Walnut Grove Elementary School. In Southlake, L.E.A.D. is also taught to sixth graders by SROs at intermediate campuses and eighth graders by SROs at middle school campuses.

One of SRO Smith’s favorite parts about the ten weeks in the classroom is the quality time that she gets to spend with the students.

“10 weeks is a significant amount of time to spend with the children and make a positive impact on their lives,” said SRO Smith. “I enjoy getting to see the kids develop into better versions of themselves by teaching them character-based values, and the great, open conversations that we have with them are fulfilling.”

SRO Smith says that two twin brothers who she had in one of her classes had the idea of making “what would Officer Kim do” bracelets, which shows her how much of an impact that she makes on students’ lives.

“It was powerful to hear the twins talk about making the bracelets. They said they would use them as a reminder to ask themselves what I would do in the situation if they’re struggling with making a good decision,” said SRO Smith. “No matter where my students go or how old they get, they know that I’ll always be there for them.”

Pictured from left to right is Mr. Petrie, retired Southlake SRO, Roxanne Burke, L.E.A.D.’s regional director for Texas, Nevada and California, and Kimberly Smith, Southlake SRO, at L.E.A.D.’s ninth annual 21st Century Drug and Violence Prevention Training Conference

Mr. Petrie has been with L.E.A.D. for three years. He’s trained approximately 400 officers, deputies, coaches, counselors and directors from the Boys & Girls Clubs, an organization that has implemented L.E.A.D. as an after-school program, in 17 states to teach the L.E.A.D. curriculum. He says that getting to work with the organization and train police officers to teach such an impactful program is an honor.

“In Southlake, I spent 35 years in law enforcement and 22 of those years as an SRO working with students in middle school. Getting to pass on the training that I’ve received over the years to police officers across the country is a blessing,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of people have a bad taste in their mouths about law enforcement, so it’s rewarding to know that by training police officers to go into the classroom and steer children away from alcohol and drugs, I’m helping to break down those walls.”

Mr. Petrie adds that he’s most impressed by the first five lessons in the L.E.A.D. curriculum as “they contain important life skills that the kids can use for the rest of their lives.”

About L.E.A.D.

L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders and families. L.E.A.D. succeeds by providing proven effective programs to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug related crimes, bullying and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill and relations between law enforcement and their communities. For more information, visit https://www.leadrugs.org/.

In this episode of Southlake City Spotlight, Mayor Pro Tem Randy Williamson and Police Chief Ashleigh Casey talk about Southlake’s SRO division recent achievement of being awarded Role Model Agency Award by the National Association of School Resource Officers.

Southlake’s SRO officers receive a high level of police training to protect and serve Southlake students and the school community. Public Safety education, mentorship roles, and building positive relationships with the students and staff are all a large part of how School Resource Officers invest in the safety of Southlake’s students.

Click the video below to watch this week’s Southlake City Spotlight featuring Mayor Pro Tem Randy Williamson, Police Chief Ashleigh Casey, and Captain Blas Hernandez.

The SRO Division has been honored as a NASRO Role Model Agency, an accolade that underscores the unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Southlake’s school community.

This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of officers within the SRO Division, who have consistently demonstrated excellence in their service to Southlake’s schools and the broader community. Through innovative approaches to school-based policing, comprehensive training, and adherence to the highest standards, the SRO Division has become a national model for effective law enforcement engagement in educational settings.

Since its inception, the SRO Program has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the schools and students. From establishing trust and mentorship with students to implementing proactive crime prevention measures, our officers have played a pivotal role in fostering a safe and supportive learning environment within Carroll and Keller Independent Schools. This recognition by NASRO reaffirms the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts with CISD, KISD, city leadership, and the community at large.

“We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our SRO Division and grateful for the dedication of our officers,” Captain Blas Hernandez said. “As we continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service, I am confident that our SRO Division will remain a beacon of excellence in school-based policing.”

Captain Hernandez and Officer Rattan accepted the award at the NASRO Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona this month.

The Southlake Police School Resource Officer Program continues to shine as a world-class SRO Program, locally and nationally. On March 20, 2023, Sgt. Blas Hernandez was recognized as the 2023 L.E.A.D. Instructor of the Year Award. Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) is a non-profit organization, supported by dedicated police officers, committed to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer/cyber bullying and violence.

In 2020, Sgt. Hernandez and Matt Petrie, a retired SRO and former DARE Officer, began the quest for educational programs that specifically target drug safety in schools. While steeped in research, Sgt. Hernandez discovered the L.E.A.D. program while completing his master’s degree in Criminology.

When asked why a program like L.E.A.D. is important to have in our schools, Sgt. Hernandez said, “The first 5-weeks of the curriculum focus on character building and I chose L.E.A.D. because it focuses more on developing confident and resilient kids as well as equipping them with the tools needed for drug resistance. After reviewing several drug safety programs, L.E.A.D. was my top choice.”

In 2022, with overwhelming support from the City of Southlake Crime Control Prevention District board members, SPD purchased its first L.E.A.D drug resistance education curriculum which is currently offered as an elective course available to 4th, 6th and 8th grade students in Carroll ISD.

The Southlake Police School Resource Officer Program continues to shine as a world-class SRO Program, locally and nationally. On March 20, 2023, Sgt. Blas Hernandez was recognized as the 2023 L.E.A.D. Instructor of the Year Award. Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) is a non-profit organization, supported by dedicated police officers, committed to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer/cyber bullying and violence.

In 2020, Sgt. Hernandez and Matt Petrie, a retired SRO and former DARE Officer, began the quest for educational programs that specifically target drug safety in schools. While steeped in research, Sgt. Hernandez discovered the L.E.A.D. program while completing his master’s degree in Criminology.

When asked why a program like L.E.A.D. is important to have in our schools, Sgt. Hernandez said, “The first 5-weeks of the curriculum focus on character building and I chose L.E.A.D. because it focuses more on developing confident and resilient kids as well as equipping them with the tools needed for drug resistance. After reviewing several drug safety programs, L.E.A.D. was my top choice.”

In 2022, with overwhelming support from the City of Southlake Crime Control Prevention District board members, SPD purchased its first L.E.A.D drug resistance education curriculum which is currently offered as an elective course available to 4th, 6th and 8th grade students in Carroll ISD.

The Southlake Police School Resource Officer Program continues to shine as a world-class SRO Program, locally and nationally. On March 20, 2023, Sgt. Blas Hernandez was recognized as the 2023 L.E.A.D. Instructor of the Year Award. Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) is a non-profit organization, supported by dedicated police officers, committed to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer/cyber bullying and violence.

In 2020, Sgt. Hernandez and Matt Petrie, a retired SRO and former DARE Officer, began the quest for educational programs that specifically target drug safety in schools. While steeped in research, Sgt. Hernandez discovered the L.E.A.D. program while completing his master’s degree in Criminology.

When asked why a program like L.E.A.D. is important to have in our schools, Sgt. Hernandez said, “The first 5-weeks of the curriculum focus on character building and I chose L.E.A.D. because it focuses more on developing confident and resilient kids as well as equipping them with the tools needed for drug resistance. After reviewing several drug safety programs, L.E.A.D. was my top choice.”

In 2022, with overwhelming support from the City of Southlake Crime Control Prevention District board members, SPD purchased its first L.E.A.D drug resistance education curriculum which is currently offered as an elective course available to 4th, 6th and 8th grade students in Carroll ISD.

On August 17, 2022, the State of Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office – Criminal Justice Division, announced that it was accepting immediate applications for the Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program, FY2023.

The Texas Rifle Shield Grant provides up to 50 million dollars in funding to eligible agencies specifically to purchase rifle-rated ballistic shields to respond to an active attacker scenario at schools.  The Southlake Police Department completed the applications and was awarded a grant for $156,000.

After receiving the grant, on February 7, 2023, the Southlake City Council approved the purchase of 26 bullet-resistant shields for all Southlake school resource officers.

"I am proud of the work our staff has put into procuring this grant,” Chief James Brandon said.  “The purchase of these shields is one more tool that our SROs and patrol officers have to increase safety."

On August 17, 2022, the State of Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office – Criminal Justice Division, announced that it was accepting immediate applications for the Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program, FY2023.

The Texas Rifle Shield Grant provides up to 50 million dollars in funding to eligible agencies specifically to purchase rifle-rated ballistic shields to respond to an active attacker scenario at schools.  The Southlake Police Department completed the applications and was awarded a grant for $156,000.

After receiving the grant, on February 7, 2023, the Southlake City Council approved the purchase of 26 bullet-resistant shields for all Southlake school resource officers.

"I am proud of the work our staff has put into procuring this grant,” Chief James Brandon said.  “The purchase of these shields is one more tool that our SROs and patrol officers have to increase safety."

Congrats are in order for Southlake Police Officer Anthony Pate who was recently honored as Carroll ISD’s 2022 School Resource Officer (SRO) of the Year.  

The School Resource Program is a partnership between the City of Southlake and Carroll ISD that provides enhanced security to schools as well as making an impact using a variety of coaching and mentoring methods. The program started in 2005 with just three police officers and has now expanded to an officer placed at every school in CISD. 

Officer Pate has been serving as an SRO for Dawson Middle School since 2018 and has over 14 years’ experience in law enforcement.

According to a statement from Carroll ISD, “Officer Pate is dedicated to our school and community. He is known for building meaningful relationships with students, teachers, parents, and all he serves.  

Principals, teachers and administrators all say that he goes above and beyond his duties. Students do not view Officer Pate as “just” a police officer; they know he is someone they can go talk to about any topic or issue they are dealing with. There have been many instances where students have gone to him for concerns because they know he cares and will do anything to help.” 

“It's an honor to receive this award in this great school district.  It makes my job a lot easier working with great teachers and administrators in this district,” said Officer Pate. 

This is not the first time Officer Pate has received recognition for his work as an SRO, in 2021 he received the National Award of Valor from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). 

When asked what he enjoys most about being an SRO, it was all about the students. 

“My favorite part is interacting with students by giving them guidance, education on life choices and most importantly having a meaningful conversation with them,” he stated.  

Learn more about the Southlake School Safety program by visiting our website.   

The new school year has started, and our school resource officers have hit the ground running to make the 2021-2022 school year great! Since the 2013-2014 school year, an SRO has been assigned to every Carroll ISD school.

The City of Southlake Police Department partners with Carroll ISD to promote and ensure student safety. We are committed to providing a safe campus and environment for the community.

Our world class SROs have been recognized by the National Association of School Resource Officers, Texas Association of School Resource Officers and locally through Carroll ISD.

“We want to create meaningful relationships with the community. If you see us while we’re at school, say hello!” Sgt. Preston Logan said.

Along with providing enhanced security, our SROs are dedicated to making a positive impact by educating students about bullying, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as bicycle safety. Our goal is to be a positive role model for your student through coaching and mentorship.

Learn more about our School Resource Officer Program on our website.

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