The Trenton Police Department School Resource Officer Program

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) solicits applications for initiatives which assist law enforcement in rural states and rural areas. The program helps rural states and rural areas to prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs.

The Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program, administered by BJA, helps rural states and rural areas prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs. In addition, priority consideration will be given to local law enforcement agencies in rural areas where the unit of local government is not eligible to receive a direct allocation from the Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program or received a direct allocation that was $50,000 or less. Applicants were invited to submit a proposal under any one of the following categories to: (1) combat rural crime; (2) improve rural law enforcement investigations; (3) enhance rural detention and jail operations; (4) facilitate rural justice information sharing; or (5) develop a national training and technical assistance program.

Under Category 1, the city of Trenton, along with the Trenton Police Department (TPD), will use its award to support the TPD's School Resource Officers Program. Funds will hire two police officers to serve as School Resource Officers (SRO), as well as purchase two police cruisers for these personnel. The officers will devote 100 percent of their time to the school they are assigned. The goals of the project are to reduce crime in the Trenton school system, reduce juvenile delinquency and truancy, promote a safe school environment for learning, and increase positive attitudes toward law enforcement. The SROs will interact with students in the classroom, as well as during school programs or activities. In addition, the SRO will assist school administrators with risk management, participate in emergency crisis planning, address building security issues, and provide training for school personnel in handling crisis situations which may arise at schools. The purchase of the police vehicles will allow SROs to attend required school events. The police cruisers will also act as a visible crime deterrent in front of the school.

CA/CF