Benton Police School Resource Officers (SRO) work under the general direction of the School Resource Officer Lieutenant and Sergeant and perform law enforcement functions, teaching and counseling in and around the Benton School District System. The SRO program is an initiative to help keep our schools a safe environment for learning through an increased law enforcement presence that allows for a good rapport between officers, students, and staff.
Officers participate in school-sponsored functions both during and after regular school hours including sporting events, dances, meetings, pep rallies, and numerous other year-round happenings. They work with school counselors on school projects and clubs, and teach a variety of subjects in the classroom such as drug prevention, child safety, juvenile law, prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, babysitting, sex crimes, and other preventions related subjects.
SRO’s conduct preliminary investigations of violations of law that occur on school campuses and district property. School resource officers have frequent contact with department personnel, other law enforcement agencies, school officials, parents, students, businesses, and the general public. They are also involved in the Boys and Girls Club organization and other civic organizations.
Starting in early 2013, officers started working with the students in the media class at the Benton High School to produce public safety announcement videos. This has resulted in numerous videos that have been presented to the public on our social media platforms in an attempt to make the community a safer place for everyone.
