Officer Thomas Watson

Quick Facts:

• Graduate of North High School…Glendale Community College…Arizona Law Enforcement Academy (ALEA)
• Proud husband and father
• When not in the SRO role, I serve as a community leader

 Duty as an SRO:

Officer Watson's primary role as the School Resource Officer (SRO) is not simply to enforce the law, but most importantly, ensure that you are safe at school and in our community. In addition, his role is to help bridge the gap between Police and the community while bringing an understanding of how Police serve you and the community. He strives to create and maintain a welcoming environment where both students and community members feel safe and at ease to approach police with their concerns.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of the School Resource Officer duties:

1. Provide law enforcement and police services to the school, school grounds and areas adjacent to the school. Investigate allegations of criminal incidents per police department policies and procedures. Enforce state and local laws and ordinances. Make appropriate referrals to juvenile authorities or other governmental agencies.
2. Work to prevent juvenile delinquency through close contact and positive relationships with students. In addition, develop crime prevention programs and conduct security inspections to deter criminal or delinquent activities. The SRO monitors crime statistics and works with local patrol officers and students together, to design crime prevention strategies
3. Establish and maintain a close partnership with school administrators in order to provide for a safe school environment. Assist school officials with their efforts to enforce Board Of Education policies and procedures. Ensure school administrator safety by being present during school searches, which may involve weapons, controlled dangerous substances or in such cases that, the student’s emotional state may present a risk to the administrator. Assist school administrators in emergency crisis planning and building security matters. Provide a course of training for school personnel in handling crisis situations, which may arise at the school.
4. Be visible within the school community. Attend and participate in school functions. Build working relationships with the school’s staff as well as with student and parent groups.
5. Develop and implement classes in law related education to support the educational efforts of the faculty. Work closely with teachers in designing and presenting law-related topics and the role of police in our society.
6. Work with guidance counselors and other student support staff to assist students and to provide services to students involved in situations where referrals to service agencies are necessary. Assist in conflict resolution efforts.
7. Initiate interaction with students in the classroom and general areas of the school building. Promote the profession of police officer and be a positive role model. Increase the visibility and accessibility of police to the school community.