School Resource Officer
The Hanover Township Police Department
the Hanover Area School District The Hanover Township Board of Commissioners and the Hanover Area School Board have come together and proudly announce the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) into the school district. The Hanover Area School District and The Hanover Township Police Department recognize the need for intervention and prevention in an effort to reduce crime among juveniles in school based settings. To meet this need, the district and the police department have placed a full time school resource officer (SRO) into the Hanover Area School District. The issue of creating safe schools is a concern shared by the community. Children find it difficult to learn and teachers cannot teach if violence or the threat of violence is present in our schools. Our children, teachers and staff have the right to expect the schools to be safe and to be a place where they are not threatened, intimidated, or victimized and where education can be maximized. This program is an effort to address school based crime, but is also an endeavor to provide juvenile prevention, intervention, mediation, and counseling through a variety of programs. This will also help to reduce juvenile crime throughout the community. The SRO is integrated into the school district and will become part of that community in a non-offensive manner very much like a teacher, nurse, or custodian. The SRO knows the layout of the schools and grounds as well as the rules and regulations. The SRO will become familiar with and will get to know the children as he will be interacting with them on a daily basis, which will afford the children the opportunity to interact with the SRO; ranging from classroom presentations to perhaps shooting hoops in the gym. The SRO will benefit the school district and the community in many ways, to include, but not limited to: laying the foundation and support for a trustful, free exchange of ideas as well as suggestions and concerns. It is the opinion of the Hanover Area School District and the Hanover Township Police Department that integrating an SRO into the school district will allow students to have a safe learning environment and will assist in allowing the students, parents, residents, and visitors of our community to feel safe while in our community. The SRO Program could not be possible without the assistance and support of the Hanover Area School Board and the Hanover Township Board of Commissioners. Program Goals and Objectives We encourage anyone with information, questions, or concerns to contact the SRO, The Hanover Township Police Department or the Hanover Area School District. Any information can be provided in an anonymous and confidential manner if so requested. Benefits of School Resouce Officers * Increased safety of students, faculty, administrators, and vistors within the school. * SROs will instruct students on crime prevention and related law enforcement issues. * SROs can act as counselors/mentors who serve students and their families as well as act as a liaison between the police department and school district and the community. * SROs act as positive role models. * SROs provide on campus resources for the faculty and the community. * SROs create an orderly and safe atmosphere which is conducive to effective learning. * Reduce juvenile crimes in schools. * Promote a greater understanding between students, community and law enforcement. Contact Numbers School Resource Officer: 570-831-2300 ext: 178 Hanover Area High School: 570-831-2300 |
