Duties of School Protection Officers

• Security and protection responsibilities of SPO's:

a. The SPO's primary duty shall be the safeguarding of the students, faculty and facilities of their assigned campuses.

b. The SPO will not perform instructional or guidance roles within their assigned schools,

c. The SPO will not be required to work extracurricular activities or school sporting events.

d. The SPO are not to be used for regularly assigned lunchroom duties, bus duty, hall monitor or other monitoring duties.

e. The SPO shall not act as a school disciplinarian. Student discipline shall be a school responsibility. However, if the principal or staff believes an incident is a violation of the law, the SPO may be consulted and determine whether law enforcement action is appropriate. Also, when it pertains to preventing a disruption that would, if ignored, place students, faculty and/or staff at risk of harm, the SPO will resolve the problem to preserve the school climate. IN ALL OTHER CASES, the SPO will intervene and take students who violate the code of conduct to the principal where school discipline can be meted out.

f. The SPO shall have the authority to escort any student witness violating the Student Code of Conduct to the administration for appropriate Code of Conduct violation while ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff.

• Additional duties and responsibilities of SPO's:
  • The SPO shall be familiar with school policy, but remain conscience of the fact their primary job mission is protection,
  • The SPO shall be responsible for directing traffic before and after school. as needed in accordance to which school they are assigned.
  • In coordination with assigned supervision, the SPO will assist their assigned schools' principals and staff in developing emergency plans and strategies to prevent and/or minimize dangerous situations including, but not limited to armed person(s) on campus, student disturbances, hostage situations, and natural and/or man-made disasters.
  • The SPO shall make himself/herself available for conference with students, parents and faculty members in order to assist them with issues dealing with law enforcement or crime prevention.
  • The SPO shall be familiar with all community agencies that offer assistance to youths and their families such as mental health clinics, drug treatment centers, etc. The SPO will make recommendations to school authorities concerning referrals to such agencies, when necessary thereby acting as a resource person to the students, faculty and staff of the school.
  • The SPO shall develop a professional relationship with the principal of his/herschool in order to form a partnership to develop plans and strategies to prevent and/or minimize dangerous situations that may occur on campus or during school sponsored events.
  • The SPO shall become familiar with all Board of Education Policies and Student Code of Conduct,
  • Should it become necessary to conduct formal Department activities with the students, the SPO shall adhere to School Board Policy, Hartselle Police Department Policy and legal requirements with regard to such investigations or interviews. Confidential information obtained shall not be disclosed except by law, court order, or by the criteria set forth in the Juvenile Justice Information Sharing Agreement.
  • The SPO shall take law enforcement action as required. As soon as practical, the SPO shall make the principal of the school aware of such action. At the principal's request, the SPO shall take appropriate law enforcement action against intruders and unwanted guests who may appear at the school or related school functions, to the extent that the SPO may so under the authority of law.
  • The SPO shall give assistance to the Hartselle Police Department within the school times of operation whenever necessary. These requests must be handled in accordance with established Departments' procedures.
  • The SPO shall maintain detailed and accurate records of the operation of the School Resource and Protection Program and shall make them available to the principal or superintendent as required by law. [AL Code: 12-15-217]
  • School personnel should contact the SPO through the two-way radio system or cellular phone. In case of emergency, school personnel should contact the SPO and simultaneously, the SPO should direct the school personnel to call 911.
  • The use of confidential school records by the SPO shall be done as allowed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Any existing rights or benefits of personnel assigned under this agreement shall not be abridged, and remain in full effect.
  • Coordinated, whenever practical, investigative procedures between law enforcement and school administrators. The SPO shall abide by all applicable legal requirements concerning interviews or searches should it become necessary to conduct formal law enforcement interviews or searches with students or staff on property or at school functions under the jurisdiction of the Hartselle City School System. The SPO can be involved in searches conducted by school personnel especially when school personnel especially when school personnel may require the assistance of the SPO because of exigent circumstances, such as the need for safety or to prevent flight. Formal investigations and arrests by law enforcement officials will be conducted in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
  • The SPO shall be a designee of the Principal in maintaining the physical plan of the school to provide a safe environment as to law enforcement matters and school code violations. This includes but not limited to the building(s), ground(s), parking lot(s), locker(s) and other public school property.
  • The SPO shall act as and be considered a "school official" for searches and seizures based on reasonable suspicion as it pertains to New Jersey vs TLO.
  • The SPO shall be discouraged in providing any courtesy ride to any juvenile student due to the laws of turning said child over to approved/authorized adults. It is agreed that SPO's shall not transport students in their vehicles except:
    • When the students are victims of a crime, under arrest, or some other emergency circumstances exists,
    • When students are suspended and sent home from school pursuant to school disciplinary actions if the student's parent or guardian has refused or is unable to pick up the child within a reasonable time period and the student is disruptive/disorderly and his/her continued presence on campus is a threat to the safety and welfare of other students and school personnel, as determined by the school resource officer or his/her supervisor,
    • Students transported by an SPO shall be done pursuant to department procedures,
    • If a student's parent, guardian or custodian is at the destination to which the student is being transported. The student shall not be left alone.
    • SPO's shall not transport in their personal vehicles.

r. The SPO shall notify the school principal before removing a student from campus. [AL Code: 12-15-217]

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