Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School
POLICE SERVICES OFFICE
A unit of the Yarmouth Police Department “It’s Not Just A Job, It’s An Education”
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The School Resource Officer
Without argument, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School is the busiest place in either town. Everyday well over one thousand people gather in what amounts to a small, self contained city. D-Y High School is a community unto itself. Its citizenry comes to work everyday on it’s own public transportation system. D-Y contains what equates to its own health clubs, entertainment venue, sports stadium, restaurant, office spaces, bank, health clinic, and why not, its own police station. Considering the composition of its population it makes sense for this community-in-a-community to be so equipped. Many people unfortunately jump to the conclusion that having police officers assigned to a school means that the campus has become overrun by crime. This is the short-sighted view of the uninformed. True enough, high school is not what it used to be but in the words of Billy Joel, “The good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” People who are moving through their teen years in today’s world are definitely exposed to experiences and circumstances that in many cases their parents did not face until adulthood if at all. It only stands to reason that a responsible support system would access a variety of resources in defense of and on behalf of it’s children, including the police. If we view adolescence as a road then it is appropriate to think of the school resource officer as a traffic cop. As the young people of today travel the road of their personal development, turning left, turning right, trying to find their way, many will encounter potholes and speed bumps particularly through the high school years. They will be faced with decisions on what lane to travel in, what on or off ramps to take, when to pass, when to put on the breaks and without question they will come to many crossroads, often without a map. In those circumstances it’s a good thing to have someone, with their best interests at heart coupled with specialized training and experience, who can call them by their first name to give them directions. Now it’s true, sometimes the traffic cop writes a ticket. Consequences are a part of every decision, good or bad, and while we hope the directions we give will always bring them home safely, it is important to pull them over as early as possible if they start down the wrong road, lest they continue on and drive off an allegorical cliff. Of course, prevention and intervention is always the preferred course and there is nothing quite like waving to the young, happy, and healthy motorist as they drive by on the road to success. With this metaphor in park, the more formal description of the school resource officer follows.
The Yarmouth and Dennis Police Departments have reached out to offer our specialized knowledge to help our young people make good decisions in the face of the difficulties that they will encounter in today's world. The School Resource Officer Program has been in successful operation at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School since 1987. The School Resource Officer is there for many reasons, most important of which is to be a resource to the students. Three major parts of the job are: Law Enforcement Enforcing the law occurs when it is necessary. As a policeman, the officer is required to investigate crime and take people to court or make arrests. In the absence of crime in our schools more time can be spent concentrating on more positive and productive things. Education The officer is frequently a guest speaker in classrooms. Classes are given on subjects such as: the effects of drugs on the body, legal and school consequences for getting caught with illegal substances, domestic violence, sexual assault, and the ever popular “Stump the Cop” free-form question and answer sessions. The School Resource Officer is also available to help students with individual projects. Specialized Counseling The School Resource Officer is at school to answer student’s questions and help them with their problems at school or at home. The officer often meets privately with students to talk about all types of issues. If you think the officer can help you don’t wait, go see him. We look forward to continued success. Combining the resources of our school system and our police department will provide a safer learning environment and a broader educational experience. Some of the other services provided: · Serving as a role model to students. · Deterring misconduct through prevention and intervention. · Assisting the school administration when others commit acts of violence or other crimes. · Serving as liaison between the police department and the school. · Assisting staff with classroom activities involving instruction on various criminal justice issues. · Providing primary source information to students working on individual projects. · Assisting with security of the school and it’s grounds. · Sustaining the reality that our school is a safe learning environment. · Providing teacher and staff training. · Acting as a resource to parents. · Alcohol and other drug resistance education and prevention. · Providing career counseling to students interested in the law enforcement field.