Program linking police, schools marks 40 years
Constables talk to elementary students to build relationships, respect and trust
Walking through St. Augustine’s frenetic post-recess hallways, greetings seemingly come from everywhere.
Poking his head into a Grade 2 classroom, Const. Don Johnson is soon surrounded by hugs and highfives from adoring students.
It’s just another day at the office for Johnson, one of more than 40 members of the police school resource officer (SRO) program, a policing initiative meant to bridge the gap between Calgary students and city police now in its 40th year.
“No question, it’s vital,” Johnson said.
“This is at the age that they’re developing, they’re learning all these social skills.”
While other police services in Canada have some sort of school liaison program, most concentrate on high schools.
Calgary’s program is unique in its direct engagement with elementary school students — not only maintaining a friendly presence in the schools, but actively teaching lessons in the classroom on issues ranging from self respect to the importance of staying safe.
“It’s more than just education by the standard definition,” said St. Augustine principal Steven Laberge.
“It’s about building in students a sense of self-awareness in the choices they make and how they relate to one another.”
He described the school resource program as one that transcends a simple partnership between school board and police force.
“It’s having someone in the building who’s relatable and a member of the community,” Laberge said.
Johnson, he said, is an important part of the school family.
“And the students see him as such,” Laberge said.
Calgary’s SRO team consists of 38 constables, three sergeants and one staff sergeant, split across the city’s elementary, junior high and senior high schools.
Fully engaged during the school year, SRO officers support divisional patrol and the Calgary Stampede during the summer months.
Their program is based on the Start Smart Stay Safe model, a joint project of the Calgary Police Service, the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District that helps children make safe choices, learn respect for others and be productive members of the community.
The program has proved to be so successful, other police departments use it as a model, sending officers to train alongside Calgary’s SROs.
This is Johnson’s second tour in the program — something the 26year policing veteran considers to be the most fulfilling aspect of his career.
“The bigger piece, for me, is the relationship that I get to build with these kids,” he said.
That relationship has grown over his years on the job — sometimes he keeps in touch with former students. “I think it’s vital,” Johnson said. “Building a good relationship with youth and the police is going to serve them for the rest of their life.
“If you’ve never had the opportunity to build a relationship with a police officer growing up, you may not be comfortable dealing with the police,” he said.
“If we can bridge that gap at this age, it’s going to pay off down the road.”
For Johnson, speaking from his years on the job, the school resource officer program makes sense for Calgary.
“Why wouldn’t you do this? Why wouldn’t you be proactive at the earliest possible age, as a police service?”
“If you’re not being proactive at an early age, then you’re being reactive at an older age.”
Building a good relationship with youth and the police is going to serve them for the rest of their life.