School Resource Officers
The Redding Police Department's School Resource Officer (SRO) program was implemented in 1993 as part of the Redding Police Department's focus on better serving the city through Community Oriented Policing. While still handling patrol calls for service, Officer Mike Thomas began handling all school related calls as part of a Problem Oriented Policing Project. Officer Randy Gilstrap followed suit in 1994 by volunteering to handle only school related calls within the city in order to relieve patrol units of calls for service. This soon led to the development of what is now known as the School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit. Today the SRO Unit is 4 Officers strong and serves practically every school within the City of Redding.
A School Resource Officer fills many different roles within his or her school:
- The SRO is a vital member of the school's administrative team, helping to solve problems within the school community.
- The SRO is an educational resource for students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
- The SRO provides students with a positive role model, and a balanced view of law enforcement.
- The SRO is a proactive law enforcement officer dealing with law related issues on campus.
When developing this program the Redding Police Department adopted a "triad" approach. This concept has been widely accepted as the model for school based officers. The triad concept divides the SRO's responsibilities into three areas: Teacher, Counselor, and Law Enforcer.
Law Enforcer
Any criminal or law related issue that arises on campus is the SRO's responsibility. In many ways his/her school is no different than any other patrol beat. Whether it is child abuse, truancy, disorderly conduct, theft, or some type of assault, the SRO is there to handle it quickly and professionally. SRO's work closely with school administration in these issues.
As part of the RPD Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU), the SRO is charged with proactively addressing the crimes that occur on campus, both through education and through special projects or programs. Every school is different, so each SRO must tailor his/her projects to both the problem and the school.
Counselor
The SRO is a resource for faculty, students and parents, providing informal counseling and/or advice. These officers have received extensive training regarding programs and services available to handle problems and conflicts. Getting the right kind of help to those that need it is one of the SRO's highest priorities.
Teacher/Trainer
The SRO is available as a guest speaker or as a resource to nearly every classroom within the school.
- Government and Law - Search & Seizure, Criminal Law, Juvenile Law, Consumer Law etc.
- Math - Accident Investigation, Computer Crime
- Science - Forensics, DNA Evidence, Ballistics , Accident Investigation
- English - Professional Writing Skills
- Drivers Education - Mock Accidents, DUI Awareness, Defensive Driving
- Physical Education/Health - Personal Safety, Sexual Assault Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Domestic Violence Awareness
Mentoring
Mentoring, mostly within the Elementary and Middle School SRO Programs, have become a focal point of the program. SRO's have the opportunity to form lasting impressions on young people. To help students succeed, the SRO provides guidance, tutoring, and coaching to students with special needs or problems. The RPD Neighborhood Police Unit has taken this a step further by recruiting Officers not assigned as SRO’s to become active in mentoring.
The REMEDY FAMILY CENTER was opened in February 2002. REMEDY means "Redding Empowerment Model for the Education and Development of Youth." This is a pilot program that has been started and funded by a Federal Grant. This grant was awarded to the Redding School District, and partners with over thirty other community organizations, in which Redding Police is one of them. This home is open from 10:30 am until 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
REMEDY FAMILY CENTER offers a "safe house" for kids and their families to come and enjoy several activities. We offer tutoring for the kids, counseling for the adults and children, a laundry facility, and a full kitchen. Parents can also enjoy parenting classes, and can receive their GED. Just one more effort by the Redding School District and the Redding Police Department to help the families throughout our community.
Meet
The Redding Police Department
School Resource Officers
Officer Peggy Porter
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Officer Peggy Porter is the School Resource Officer assigned to the Enterprise Elementary School District. Officer Porter is responsible for law enforcement services at the below listed schools, along with serving on the district School Attendance Review Board (SARB), pre-expulsion hearings, and enforcing truancy laws for the district.
Officer Porter has been a police officer since 2000. She began her career in law enforcement with the Salinas Police Department and came to the Redding Police Department in 2002. She has spent her career in Field Operations (Patrol) and was on the Defensive Tactics Team for two years. As a School Resource Officer, Officer Porter enjoys working with the students and making a positive impact in their lives.
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Officer Porter's schools include:
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Officer Jeff Gleason
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Officer Jeff Gleason works with the Shasta Union High School District, consisting of Shasta High School, Pioneer Continuation School and various classes at the Shasta Learning Center. He has been a police officer since 1986. He began his career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department where he worked as a Deputy Sheriff for 10 years. Officer Gleason came to the Redding Police Department in 1996. He has worked as a Patrol Officer, and worked as the D.A.R.E. Officer for the Redding School District before his assignment as a School Resource Officer. His special assignments include being a First Aid/CPR Instructor, Field Training Officer, and Force Options Trainer.
Officer Gleason serves on the SUHSD Student Attendance Review Board (SARB), and attends after school activities such as athletic events and staff meetings. He enjoys working with school district employees, addressing truancy and safety issues. His favorite part of being a school resource officer is working with the students.
Officer Scott Hyatt
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Officer Hyatt is the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Shasta Union High School District (SUHSD). He is responsible for providing a safe campus for the students and staff, enforcing truancy laws, and performing law enforcement related services as the schools he is assigned to. Officer Hyatt is assigned to Enterprise High School and Freedom High School.
Officer Haytt has been in law enforcement since 1991. He began his career with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department where he worked for 12 years. Officer Hyatt came to the Redding Police Department in 2003.
Officer Hyatt enjoys working with the School District Staff and students, providing a positive influence and guidance to the community.
Officer Will Williams
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Officer Williams is the School Resource Officer assigned to Redding School District. He is responsible for law enforcement services at the below listed schools, along with serving on the district School Attendance Review Board (SARB), pre-expulsion hearings, and enforcing truancy laws for the district.
Officer Williams has been in law enforcement since 2000, working first for the Salinas Police Department and coming to work for our department in 2002.
Due to his hard work and commitment to public safety, Officer Williams was honored as the officer of the year in 2005, being nominated by his fellow employees.
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Officer Williams' schools include:
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