School Resource Officer

North Lawrence Community Schools

Position Title: School Resource Officer
Department: District Administration / School Safety
Reports To: Assistant Superintendent
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Category: Classified, Full-Time
Work Year: 183 Days-School Year

Primary Assignment: Shawswick Elementary School

Position Purpose

The School Resource Officer serves as a school-based law enforcement and safety professional for North Lawrence Community Schools. The officer helps maintain a safe, secure, and orderly learning environment by supporting prevention, intervention, emergency preparedness, positive student relationships, and collaboration among students, staff, families, and community agencies. The School Resource Officer serves as a visible safety presence and liaison between the school corporation and law enforcement/community partners, while supporting the district’s school safety efforts and applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following are representative duties. Additional duties may be assigned.

School Safety and Security

• Help maintain a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and visitors on school property and at school events.
• Assist the Assistant Superintendent, school administrators, and the school safety specialist with the development, implementation, review, and improvement of the district’s school safety plan.
• Support building-level and district-level safety procedures, including emergency operations, threat response, reunification, evacuation, lockdown, weather safety, and related protocols.
• Assist with safety drills, emergency preparedness activities, and after-action review processes.
• Help prevent unauthorized access to school property and support efforts to secure schools against violence and natural disasters.

Law Enforcement and Investigations

• Enforce applicable federal, state, and local laws within the scope of lawful authority.
• Respond to, investigate, document, and assist with incidents occurring on school property or at school-sponsored events, and when appropriate, incidents affecting school safety off campus.
• Gather information on criminal activity involving students or school operations, and coordinate with appropriate law enforcement agencies.
• Prepare reports, maintain records, preserve evidence, and testify in court or administrative proceedings when required.
• Conduct investigations, searches, seizures, arrests, or other law-enforcement actions only as authorized by law and district procedures.

Collaboration and Student Support

• Build positive, professional relationships with students and serve as a trusted, approachable adult presence in the school environment.
• Work collaboratively with administrators, counselors, social workers, nurses, teachers, and student services personnel to address safety concerns and student needs.
• Help de-escalate conflict and support appropriate interventions when student behavior has safety implications.
• Serve as a liaison among students, families, staff, child protective services, probation, juvenile court, prosecutors, mental health providers, and other agencies, as appropriate.
• Make referrals or connect students and families with support services when concerns extend beyond law enforcement needs.

Education, Prevention, and School Community Engagement

• Provide instruction, presentations, or training to students and staff on topics such as safety awareness, bullying prevention, digital safety, substance awareness, threat reporting, and other law-related or safety-related matters.
• Participate in staff meetings, crisis teams, case conferences, and safety committees as assigned.
• Present to parent or community groups on school safety or related topics when requested.
• Promote positive relationships between youth, schools, law enforcement, and the broader community.

Operational Responsibilities

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of student and personnel information in accordance with law and district policy.
• Maintain required certifications, qualifications, annual firearms qualifications, and professional training.
• Support the collection and review of safety-related data, patterns, and concerns for continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties reasonably assigned by the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent consistent with the position.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree preferred in criminal justice, public safety, education, or a related field.
• Must meet Indiana requirements to serve in a school-based law enforcement role, including minimum law enforcement training requirements.
• Must complete required School Resource Officer training consistent with Indiana requirements.
• Valid Indiana driver’s license.
• Ability to qualify for and maintain any certifications, appointments, commissions, or authority required for the role.
• Successful completion of background checks, drug screening, psychological evaluation, physical examination, and any other pre-employment requirements established by the Corporation or applicable law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior law enforcement experience, ideally including youth, school, community policing, or investigations experience.
• Prior experience working effectively with children, adolescents, and families.
• Training or experience in de-escalation, crisis response, threat assessment, trauma-informed practices, or emergency management.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a school setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of criminal law, juvenile law, school safety practices, and emergency response procedures.
• Skill in investigation, documentation, report writing, and evidence handling.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in high-stress situations.
• Ability to build rapport with students while maintaining lawful authority and professional boundaries.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with school personnel, families, law enforcement agencies, and community partners.
• Ability to speak to groups, teach safety-related topics, and communicate clearly with diverse audiences.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations appropriately.

Physical and Work Environment Demands

• Regularly required to walk school campuses, move throughout buildings and grounds, and respond quickly to emergencies.
• May be required to stand for extended periods, restrain individuals when legally justified and necessary, operate a vehicle, and work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions.
• May be exposed to stressful, volatile, or emergency situations requiring rapid decision-making.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands and qualification standards required for school-based law enforcement duties.

Terms of Employment

• Salary and benefits established by the Board of School Trustees.
• Work calendar and duty schedule established by the Corporation.
• The position may require evening, weekend, or special-event assignments.
• Assignment may be districtwide or building-based and may be changed based on operational need.

The employee must maintain all certifications, commissions, appointments, firearms qualifications, and other legal qualifications necessary to perform school-based law enforcement duties in Indiana. Failure to maintain required qualifications may result in reassignment or separation from employment.

Evaluation

Performance will be evaluated by the Assistant Superintendent in accordance with board policy and administrative procedures.