In addition to basic patrol, our Police Department devotes considerable resources to work with the youth of our community. The Old Saybrook Police Department Youth Services initiative is comprised of Officer Barnes, Officer Roche, Officer Perrotti, and Officer Walsh. The initiative combines all youth-related services into two categories: Investigation / Enforcement and Prevention/Education. TheYouth Services Unit includes certified School Resource Officers who are also D.A.R.E. certified. The officers are assigned to each of the schools in our community. The Officers work not only when school is in session, but also before and after school. The school resource officers program is a school-based policing program which takes a pro-active approach to community policing in our schools. This program places police officers on school campuses to ensure:
· Immediate access to police services.
· Deterrents to violence and criminal activity.
· A better rapport between youth and the police community.
· The provision of information on community services and law-related education to students, parents, and school staff.
· Informal counseling to students and parents, based on the expertise of a law enforcement officer, including drug abuse, crime prevention, civic responsibility, date rape, etc.
· Liaison between the school and the police community.
· Positive role models and encourage law enforcement career development.
· Truancy prevention initiatives
· Enhanced utilization of diversion programs.
Our first full time School Resource Officer special assignment was assigned to our school district in 1999. The Youth Services Section was later created and the goal was to integrate all of the police department’s juvenile services. The primary objective is to better serve the needs of our school-based population and provide a multi-faceted approach to youth violence.
Old Saybrook School Resource Officer
The mission of the School Resource Officer (SRO) is to reduce school violence and drug abuse by introducing programs and enforcing violations of the law occurring on school property which will promote and enhance acceptable social behavior. The resource officer will distribute, share, advise and coordinate information on the value of teaching students the principles of good citizenship and community responsibility. The resource officer will also work in conjunction with administration, parents, faculty, and support services to provide a safe, non-threatening school atmosphere that will assist in the growth and betterment of all students.
Questions about this program
please contact Officer Sam Barnes at:
Old Saybrook Police Department
860-395-3142
Old Saybrook High School
860-395-3175
Old Saybrook High School Resource Officer
Patrolman Samuel B. Barnes
The Old Saybrook Police Department provides a specially trained officer who became a member of the Public School Community in the fall of 1999, following a grant received by the federal government. Officer Barnes, a 1984 graduate of Old Saybrook High School, attended Keene State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Officer Barnes is married to a former middle school teacher, Allison and has three children, Megan, Matthew and Jonathan. Officer Barnes became a police officer in 1993 and was named Officer of the Year in 1997. He is also the Head Coach of the High School’s Boys Soccer Team since 1996 and has been named shoreline coach of the year three times as well as the Connecticut Coach of the Year in 2001. He has received specialized SRO training from the North Carolina Justice Academy, the
Connecticut State Police and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. Officer Barnes is a DARE instructor/coordinator, Child Car Seat Technician and Bicycle Officer. He acts as a liaison between the school, staff, student community, juvenile court and the police department. Officer Barnes is also the Commander of Youth Services for the department.
Benefits of Having a School Resource Officer
It Humanizes the police – young people can begin to relate to the officers as people, not just as a uniform or institution.
It permits students to see police officers in a helping role, not just as an enforcement role.
It opens lines of communications between the youth and the police.
It opens up lines of communication between the school district and the police to deal with a wide range of issues, such as violence in the schools, drug abuse, and many other problems for which there is mutual concern.
It serves as a source of feedback to the police department to better understand the fears and concerns of youth in order to help the police develop problem-solving efforts which extend beyond drugs.
It places police in a different light with respect to many adults within the community: specifically parents, teachers, school, staff, administration, and board of education members.
Exposure to life in the secondary schools can broaden officer’s perspectives and understanding about concerns expressed by community members.
Officers can serve as a conduit to provide information to young people, particularly in direct question and answer sessions.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
SPONSORED PRESENTATIONS
D.A.R.E. at Grades 2,5,8
Juvenile Law
Search and Seizure
Constitutional Law
Youth Police Academy
C.R.A.S.H.
P.A.S.T.
D.W.I. / Motor Vehicle Laws
Police as a Profession
Internet Safety
Underage Drinking
Drugs & Alcohol
Community Service Programs
Student Assistance Team
Gun Safety
Personal Safety
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