AZ FREE NEWS: AZ Expands School Resource Officer Program, Strengthening Family Trust in Education Safety

Matthew Holoway writes in an article found on AZ Free News that he state of Arizona is taking significant steps to ensure the safety of students with a new initiative to deploy more School Resource Officers (SROs) through 2026. Off Duty Management, a firm that employs police officers during their off-duty hours, will facilitate the program, which will send armed, uniformed officers into schools across six counties. Superintendent Tom Horne’s administration has prioritized this expansion, ensuring that even schools in communities with police shortages are protected.

Horne emphasized the importance of this move, saying:

“The safety of school campuses is a priority for my administration. If some armed maniac should try to invade a school, the most effective response is to have well-trained armed law enforcement officers to protect everyone on campus. Our partnership with Off Duty Management is a vital part of ensuring safety. It is proving to be a successful, effective public-private partnership and the first of its kind in the nation.”

This program underscores a key win for both families and education. By placing SROs in schools, parents can trust that their children are learning in a secure environment, which allows schools to focus more on teaching and less on emergency preparedness. It gives families the confidence that safety isn't compromised, enabling more freedom for educational institutions to flourish without being weighed down by security concerns. SROs also act as role models, fostering positive relationships with students and reinforcing a school culture of respect and responsibility.

Arizona Department of Education’s Director of School Safety Mike Kurtenbach added:

“This agreement with Off Duty Management is a complement to the School Resource Officer program and illustrates how police officers who work as school safety officers also are trusted role models for students, which brings a sense of safety to the school campus.”

Read the full story here.