The North Dakota Association of School Resource Officers held its first ever North Dakota School safety conference -- in Bismarck this week.
"We're sitting at about 45 to 50 school resource officers in the state," said NDASRO President Chris Potter. He's a Cass County Deputy, and is the school resource officer for the Maple Valley school in Tower City. Potter said when you compare it to the number of North Dakota school districts, that 45 to 50 number seems small.
""I think we're starting to see SRO programs expand across North Dakota," Potter said. "A lot of it comes down to funding -- where do we find the monety to pay for it."
Potter said when the program started – in the early 2000s – there was some hesitation about having an armed officer in the school. But now he said teachers, parents and students have come to expect it.
"The comments I've received from parents are, they just feel good that when they send their children off to school, they know somebody's there to protect them," Potter said. "It's also another way of reaching out and establishing relationships between law enforcement and youth."
Todd Pearson with the West Fargo Police is assigned to an elementary school. The West Fargo school district started the program back in 2005. Pearson said teachers, parents and students have embraced the concept.
"When I walk into my elementary buildings, in a full uniform, they know I'm there to help and interact with them," Pearson said. "I'm there to make sure they have a safe learning environment. It's a wonderful experience, and I look forward to going to work every day."
