The School Resource Team, a component of the Investigations and Family Services Division, emphasizes early intervention in the lives of youth who are at risk. The team includes a sergeant and nine school resource officers. The goal is to redirect negative behavior before it lands a student in the court system.

Team members are active in the Wake County Teen Court program, which diverts minor offenders from the juvenile justice system. Programs are designed to empower youth to take charge situations that could adversely affect them. School resource officers and juvenile crime detectives work together and are regularly in contact with the same youths.

A full-time school resource officer (SRO) is assigned to each of the middle and high schools in Cary. The officers work with school administrators on security and safety issues and investigate crimes in which students are victims or suspects. Although officers are not assigned to elementary schools, SROs are commonly called on to assist them when issues arise that require police attention.

Programs initiated by school resource officers include Conflict Resolution & Peer Mediation, Law Enforcement Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.), Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E.), and community service projects. The officers give classroom presentations on law and crime prevention topics. They are also available for conferences with students, parents and faculty.

Sgt. Kevin Tingen

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