Police Officer - School Resource Officer

The Town of Elon is seeking a dedicated and community-minded individual to join our Police Department as a School Resource Officer (SRO). In this vital role, you’ll have the unique opportunity to foster positive relationships with students, staff, and the community, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for our local schools. If you’re passionate about mentoring youth, enhancing public safety, and making a meaningful impact, this position offers the perfect blend of law enforcement and community service. Join us in making a difference where it matters most—our future generation!

School Resource officers (SRO) are police officers that are assigned to ensure the safety of the Elon Elementary School. SRO will investigate and respond to criminal misconduct on campus, taking appropriate enforcement action on criminal matters as necessary. SROs have the authority to perform all law enforcement work including patrolling municipal boundaries, responding to calls for service, and investigations of criminal activity within the Town of Elon as required.

An employee in this class performs general duty law enforcement work in varied areas of the department. Work includes patrol, investigating traffic accidents, undercover task forces, investigating criminal activity, serving warrants, traffic law enforcement, responding to domestic disputes, and other work applicable to law enforcement. Work may include assignments such as canine (K9) patrol, animal control work, or as a school resource officer in public schools. Employees in this class exercise visible presence in the community to prevent or abate criminal activity. Work is performed under the immediate supervision of a Lieutenant or other senior law enforcement officer or supervisor and is evaluated on the basis of achieving annual performance objectives, effectiveness, visibility, and compliance with standards.

• Officers assigned as SRO are subject to all the same work duties as an Officer I, Officer II, or Master Police officer depending on their rank. 
• The SRO shall be responsible for investigating and responding to criminal misconduct and shall take appropriate enforcement action on criminal matters as necessary. The SRO shall, to the extent reasonable in the circumstances, advise the principal before requesting additional enforcement assistance on campus and inform the principal of any additional law enforcement responsibilities that may need to be undertaken. The SRO shall notify the principal and the Agency as soon as possible if an investigation produces evidence of danger for any individual associated with the Alamance-Burlington School System or if there is a potential for violence at any of the schools.
• Each SRO shall wear the uniform issued by his or her assigning Agency, shall be neat and well groomed. Each SRO shall remain highly visible and accessible to students at all times, encouraging collaboration to identify and deter any potential criminal activity, especially in areas of student gatherings and where incidents of crime or violence are most likely to occur.
• The SRO shall NOT be involved in (l) the enforcement of disciplinary rules or school regulations that do not constitute violations of the law or (2) traditional school discipline issues, including non-violent disruptive behavior. The SRO shall not be utilized for support or administrative staffing regularly assigned to school personnel such as hall monitor, substitute teacher, or cafeteria duty unless the SRO and principal determine it is necessary to maintain a safe school environment based on individual and specific circumstances. However, the SRO may act to de-escalate the situation and to protect the safety of the school where there is an immediate and substantial harm or threat of harm to the physical or psychological well-being of students or school personnel. Nothing herein is intended to preclude the SRO from being available in areas where interaction with students is expected, or from attending and serving as a witness at student disciplinary hearings if requested by school officials. 

1. The SRO is acting as a "school official" (as it relates to accessing student records) as defined in 34 CFR 99.31 because he or she is exercising a function that would otherwise be performed by school personnel and has legitimate educational interests in the information to be disclosed. For example, an SRO may be authorized to review the Behavior Intervention Plan of a student with a disability if the principal or designee has requested the SRO's assistance in deescalating physical conflicts and ensuring the physical safety of the student and others when the student becomes involved in interpersonal conflicts.
2. The SRO has written consent from a parent or eligible student to review the records or information in question.
3. The principal or designee reasonably determines that disclosure to the SRO without parental consent is necessary in I light of a significant and articulable threat to one or more person's health or safety.
4. The disclosure is made pursuant to a valid subpoena or court order, provided that advance notice of compliance is provided to the parent or eligible student so that they may seek protective action from the court, unless the court has ordered the existence or the contents of the subpoena or the information furnished in response to the subpoena not be disclosed.
5. The information disclosed is "directory information" as defined by ABSS Policy 4700, and the parent or eligible student has not opted out of the disclosure of directory informal ion.
6. The disclosure is otherwise authorized under FERPA, its implementing regulations, and applicable ECPS policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures
• Knowledge of human behavior characteristics and effective oral and written communication techniques when interacting with individuals and groups
• Skill in the use of firearms and other authorized law enforcement equipment
• Ability to develop a positive public image, display tact and firmness when interacting with criminal suspects or witnesses, apply reasoned and experienced judgment and discretion, and project a positive attitude; ability to take charge of a situation and determine if criminal acts have been committed and apprehend or arrest criminal suspects
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, general public, 
• Ability to express thoughts clearly both orally and in written reports
• Ability to maintain a physical fitness sufficient to perform law enforcement work

Work in this position is medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Employee must have the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal, and perform extensive reading. Employee may be required to use sufficient physical force to subdue or restrain persons including the use of deadly force. Employee is expected to exhibit a high degree of physical fitness to withstand rigors of law enforcement work.

This position is eligible for PO1, PO2 or MPO, which is reflected in the salary range. Starting salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Employee is exposed to inside and outside working conditions. Employee may be exposed to noise which would cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level. Employee is also exposed to hazards including proximity to moving equipment, atmospheric conditions which may affect the respiratory system, and exposure to blood-borne pathogens, communicable diseases, and bodily harm. Work environment often includes persons with criminal records with little to no respect for law enforcement.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
Graduation from high school or GED equivalency and some prior experience in law enforcement work is desired
 
Special Requirements
Valid North Carolina Driver’s License; Basic Law Enforcement Certification (BLET) by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission