Rutherford County Sheriff's Office
School Resource Officer Division

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A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a certified police officer who is assigned full-time to a school. For this, SRO’s receive many hours of ongoing specialized training. The concept is similar to the "cop on foot patrol" who knows the public he serves on a first name basis and is sensitive to their particular needs.

Like many adults, some students view police officers solely as enforcers of the laws. By establishing a daily rapport with their school’s SRO, students not only gain positive role models, but also a better understanding of police officers’ many other duties and responsibilities.

Likewise, SRO’s will gain a better perspective of the youngsters in their schools. By carefully assessing the needs of individual students, SRO’s are more aware of the development of unhealthy or destructive behavioral patterns. Through early intervention it is possible, in many cases, to redirect negative behaviors before they cause a student to be referred to the criminal justice system.

The SRO program was first implemented in Flint, Michigan in 1951. Since the program’s inception, it has successfully been put into practice in 35 states.   Rutherford County was the first sheriff's office and school system in the state of Tennessee to implement a school resource officer program in 1993.

Law Enforcement

Instructor        Advisor

Law Enforcerment:
Working with school administrators, SRO’s investigate criminal violations which involve students as victims or suspects.

Instructor:
SRO’s visit classrooms to make presentations of a law-related nature such as drug education and police role in society.

Advisor:
Students are encouraged to seek the personalized attention of SRO’s. Each officer is specially trained to conduct informal, individual or group discussions

The involvement of SRO’s extends far beyond the classroom and normal workday. SRO’s participate in parent-teacher and faculty meetings, student social and sporting events, and club projects. The presence of SRO’s tends to strengthen the student/police bonds and shows the officers’ commitment to the students and their education and safety.

Operation Integrity is a highly structured intervention program for the Rutherford County youth who are exhibiting behavioral problems at home and/or at school or may be showing signs of drug use or experimentation. This is a performance-based program that emphasizes the values of personal accountability, team achievement and relationships, interpersonal skills, self-esteem, self-confidence, victim restitution, respect and empathy for others, and a positive work ethic. The camp is run one Saturday a month from 6:00am - 6:00pm, with additional follow-up sessions.

Requirements

·         Age requirement: 12-16 years of age

·         No prior delinquent offense convictions

·         Less than three status convictions

·         An intake must be done prior to entering program to ensure appropriate placement

·         No prior suicide attempts or suicidal ideation

·         Parent/Guardian MUST attend parent component

·         $25 non-refundable registration fee

Contact Information

Sgt. Terri Garvey
Rutherford County Sheriff's Department
615-217-4019
Monday-Friday 7:30-3:30

What is T.E.A.M. ?

(Teen Education Alcohol Management) is a cooperative effort between the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers and Special Enforcement Bureau in conjunction with Rutherford County Court system. Using a two-prong method consisting of enforcement and education will provide a positive impact in deterring teen alcohol consumption.

Enforcement Method

The Enforcement Team consists of SEB and SRO’s whose responsibilities will be to enforce law’s pertaining to underage purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages. To conduct investigations into those businesses that are selling to minors, and to prosecute offenders who violate the law.

Cops In Shops/Third Parties

During the Sheriff’s Office previous underage alcohol intervention efforts, a consistent and valid concern by the merchants was the failure to address attempts by juveniles to purchase alcohol. By incorporating Cops In Shops and Third Party interventions this issue is pursued. Cops In Shops allows the storeowner to have an undercover officer posing as an employee to observe the underage consumer commit the purchase of alcohol. During this time surveillance teams will observe from a discreet location in attempt to intervene with Third Party purchasers.

Summary

T.E.A.M. is a positive concept that is both proactive and reactive. Deterring sales to minors and educating teens on the dangers and consequences of alcohol consumption. Implementing the T.E.A.M. concept using the twp-pronged method would allow us to work from both ends to meet in the middle with a positive successful outcome.