School Resource Unit

The School Resource Officers (SRO) program is a collaborative effort between the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Martin County School District, which places law enforcement officers in schools with the goal of creating and maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for students, teachers, and staff.

There are currently 30 deputies assigned to the SRO Unit, with one deputy in each high school. Middle schools, alternative school, and special needs schools throughout the county have one or more deputies that service the school. The elementary schools are serviced by deputies assigned to the middle schools.

Training

Deputies assigned to the School Resource Unit are certified full-time law enforcement officers who receive numerous hours of specialized training through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement-Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers. This training encompasses three core concepts for an effective SRO:

• Informal Counselor
• Law enforcement
• Law Related Educator

Community Policing Philosophy

The School Resource Program is an extension of Sheriff Snyder’s dedication to the “Community Policing” philosophy, in that the deputies assigned to a school possess the skills to build relationships, solve problems, and enforce the law; while focusing on the quality of life within the school and the community the school serves. The school resource deputies accomplish this by being proactive and community driven.

Deputies & Assigned Schools

Deputies are assigned to a school on a long-term basis so that they can become familiar with their school’s specific needs as well as the specific needs of the individual students and staff. SRO’s provide the school with a safe environment while offering the student body an approachable and positive role model.

To find what deputies are assigned to which schools, view the School Resource Officers section of our Staff Directory