School Resource Program

The School Resource Officer (S.R.O.) performs a variety of roles to include being a mentor, teacher and a law enforcement resource for both students and staff. They work with the school faculty to maintain a safe learning environment. Each S.R.O. is certified through the National Association of School Resource Officers (N.A.S.R.O.) as well as through Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) America to teach the middle school D.A.R.E. curriculum. The Middle School D.A.R.E. Program is currently offered at the four public middle schools as part of the Health Curriculum.

The School Resource Program was implemented in St. Mary's County during the 1998-1999 school year. The Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the St. Mary's County Board of Education, entered into a memorandum of understanding which assigned a deputy to each of the three county public high schools. The program was expanded during the 2005-2006 school year adding two additional deputies who split their time between the four public middle schools.

During the 2019-2020 school year, two more deputies were added so that there is one S.R.O. dedicated to each county public high school and middle school.