Milwaukee schools reintroduce specialized school resource officers

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has restarted its school police program, called the school resource officer (SRO) program, following a new state law and a lawsuit. The program assigns officers from the Milwaukee Police Department to work in 11 MPS schools. This decision comes after the school district ended a previous SRO program in 2020 due to concerns about police involvement in schools after the murder of George Floyd. SROs differ from regular police officers in their training and roles. They are specifically trained to work with youth, having completed a 40-hour course on topics like adolescent development and mental health. Their responsibilities include enforcing laws, mentoring students, and providing safety education. This is different from regular policing, where officers typically deal with adults in broader community settings. In addition to SROs, MPS employs about 230 school safety staff members who manage safety issues, such as fights, but do not carry guns or have arrest power. Together with SROs, they constitute a small number of personnel relative to MPS' student body of around 65,600 students. A memorandum of understanding has been approved by city and school officials, clarifying the SRO program's goals, which focus on crime prevention and ensuring a safe learning environment. Importantly, SROs are expected to avoid involvement in school discipline unless necessary. Previously, SROs in MPS were known to handle disciplinary matters too frequently, leading to concerns about unnecessary arrests. A court hearing emphasized the need for SROs to recognize the difference between minor misconduct and serious offenses. The school district hopes to better define these roles to prevent confusion in the future.