Police Presence in Schools: An Exploratory Study of Teachers' and Staff's Perceptions of School Resource Officers

Abstract

Media attention surrounding violence in schools has increased in recent years. As a result, police presence has become common in many schools, especially in urban centers. While the presence of these officers is meant to have positive effects on students' behaviour and attitudes toward the rules of school and society, it is unclear if this is the case. This study examines the perceptions that teachers and staff have of School Resource Officers in their school environment, and what, if any, differences exist between school personnel's perceptions of SROs and other critical perceptions of police in school. Utilizing a mixed methods approach to data collection, this study examines the police-school relationship in two schools in a large urban area. This study could contribute to the field of education by adding to the scant body of literature currently existing on the topic of police in Canadian schools.