Multiple Roles and potential Role Conflict of a School Resource Officer: A Case Study of the Midwest Police Department's School Resource Officer Program in the United States

Michael D. Schlosser

University of Illinois Police Training Institute, USA

Abstract:

Schools must be a safe environment, not just owing to the commonsensical discourse of wanting children and school employees to be out of harm's way, but also because it produces a better learning environment for students. Having safe schools should thus be a priority for students, parents, educators, policymakers, and the community. The implementation of school resource officers, who theoretically carry out various roles such as counselor, teacher, and law enforcer, is one approach that is becoming increasingly popular to make schools safer. However, some argue that deploying police officers in schools negatively influences students, especially ethnic minority ones. Based on the inconclusive evidence in the literature, this case study examines the Midwest Police Department's School Resource Officer Program implemented in Midwest City Schools (four Grade Schools and one Junior High School). The findings of the presented case study show that these various roles of the school resource officer conflict with one another. Further, of these three roles, law enforcer is the primary role; however, the dominance of this role contributes to the racist practices that already exist in society.

Keyword:

School Resource Officer, Racism, Police, Schools.