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 five 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.
Meet
The Redding Police Department
School Resource Officers
Officer Eddy Gilmette |
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Officer Eddy Gilmette is the School Resource Officer assigned to the Enterprise Elementary School District. Officer Gilmette 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 Gilmette has been a police officer since 2005 with the Redding Police Department. He has an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice. He has spent his career in Field Operations (Patrol) and is currently on the Defensive Tactics Team.
As a School Resource Officer, Officer Gilmette enjoys interacting with the students and making a positive impact in their lives.
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Officer Gilmette'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 Linda Gisske |
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Officer Gisske is the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Shasta Union High School District (SUHSD). She is responsible for providing a safe campus for the students and staff, enforcing truancy laws and performing law enforcement related services as the sites she is assigned to. Officer Gisske is assigned to Enterprise High School and the ROP Farm.
Officer Gisske has been in law enforcement since 1987 and was hired by the Redding Police Department in 1995. Officer Gisske has worked as a patrol officer, school resource officer, DARE officer, and elder/dependent adult abuse investigator. Officer Gisske taught defensive tactics at the police department and currently teaches at Butte Police Academy. She is also a memeber of the department's peer support program, chaplain advisory board and is an advisor for the RPD Explorer Post.
Officer Gisske says one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is working with Redding's young people. She likes to help them become successful members of our comuunity and be proud of themselves.
Officer Eric Harney |
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Officer Harney has been with the Redding police dept since starting his career in 2003. He was assigned to patrol for 5 years prior to joining the S.R.O. program. His current special assignments include ID Tech, Peer Support Team, Fire Arms Instructor, and Department Armorer. Officer Harney's schools include Oasis Community School, Educational Resource Center, Excel Academy, Oasis Day Center. He says he enjoys working and interacting with students, school staff and Juvenile probation.
Officer Tom Landreth |
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Officer Tom Landreth is the School Resource Officer assigned to the Redding Elementary School District. Officer Landreth is responsible for law enforcement services for the below listed schools, along with serving on the district's School Attendance Review Board (SARB), pre-expulsion hearings and enforcing truancy laws throughout the district.
Officer Landreth started his law enforcement career in 1989, and has been with the Redding Police Department since 1996. He grew up in Redding, graduating from Enterprise High School in 1984, and received an Associates Degree in Administration of Justice from Shasta College. Since joining the Redding Police Department, Officer Landreth has worked in Patrol, Investigations and as a Motor Officer in the Traffic Division.
As a School Resource Officer, Officer Landreth believes he can work with the schools and make a difference in today's youth so they can become successful members of our community.
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Officer Landreth's schools include:
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