x
Breaking News
More () »

Taking a closer look at research on school resource officers

As we talk about Colorado adding school resource officers, we wanted to know if they reduce school shootings.

DENVER — When a group of Colorado lawmakers made their way back to the state capitol during the summer to talk about school safety in July, part of their discussion was about school resource officers.

RELATED: State's school safety committee meets to work toward new laws

A week later, a decision was reached to add seven more school resource officers (SROs) in Douglas County Schools for the upcoming year during a county commissioners meeting. It was a decision made a few months after a deadly shooting at Stem School Highlands Ranch.

RELATED: 7 new SROs approved for upcoming school year in Douglas County

However, when an advocacy group called Colorado Children’s Campaign started researching school safety as a part of their initiative to provide better access to health care and education for children, they said they didn't find enough information focused on the impacts of SROs in schools. They started the research in 2018 as they watched legislators discuss school safety and how to address it.

“It doesn't necessarily mean that SROs aren't effective,” said Erica Manotal a research analyst with the group.“It just means we don't have a clear picture at all of what this intervention does.”

She presented at the first Colorado School Safety Committee in July and told lawmakers the research she found had conflicting results, which she reiterated in a sit-down interview with 9NEWS.

“In some setting, the presence of a school resource officer was associated with a decrease in school violence and kids felt safer,” said Manotal. “In other settings, they saw the opposite. There was no impact on school violence and kids might have felt less safe.”

She also said there was research that SROs could have negative impacts on students of color and how they feel with an SRO around.

“[There's a] difference between African American students, white students, Hispanic and Latino students. There is emerging research in that area," she said.

Manotal brings this up because while she would like to see more research, she believes that, in the meantime, school safety funds should go toward programs backed by more evidence like in school mental health services and positive behavior support.

We took those concerns to a school safety expert, John McDonald, who is the head of security for Jefferson County Schools.

“I frankly have not seen that," said McDonald. “And I work in schools all the time.”

McDonald said while there could always be more research, there are studies that show how useful SROs are in addition to what he’s seen firsthand.

“I've seen SROs prevent suicide,” he said. “Climb up on buildings when a kid is ready to jump and talk that student down.”

Manotal said the reason there's so little research on SROs and school shootings is because, per capita, school shootings are rare statistically. While it feels counter-intuitive, Manotal said there is little data for comprehensive research. It, however, doesn't diminish the emotional toll it takes, or that it's a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

“It’s true schools shootings are rare. That’s the way we want it to be,” said McDonald. "But an SRO is so much more than that. The SRO is the protector in the hallway. They are able to prevent bullying from occurring. They can stop a student engaging in risky behavior and say that's not OK."

SROs are just one part of a much larger conversation about school safety.

The Douglas County Commissioners set aside $10 million of one-time funding that will go toward improving school security and mental health programs.

A new law signed by the governor this year also expands a program for more health professionals in schools.

RELATED: A look at Colorado's 8 new laws related to mental health

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Next with Kyle Clark

Before You Leave, Check This Out