On Target
SROs, School Safety and Strategy!
In MUSD, we believe safety is a prerequisite to learning. Student and staff safety is embedded into our vision and mission statements and remains at the center of all decision making. The support and partnership of our local agencies including law enforcement, emergency first responders, and county emergency services are essential in this mission — placing student and staff safety at the forefront.
Working collaboratively with MUSD staff, the school resource program has a unique approach and intent to support school safety and provide proactive solutions to crime and campus problems.
SROs play a vital role in day-to-day school safety. As sworn law enforcement officers, they are skilled at helping to prevent crises and crime, respond to emergencies, and cite incidents. Their primary responsibility, though, is to develop positive relationships with students and educate, mentor, and counsel them on the role of law enforcement in our communities.
“I enjoy when students learn that I am not here as a repercussion, but as someone who lends an ear and a resource to help,” shared Officer Edgar Montanez.
Meet MUSD’s School Resource Officers!
Lathrop Police Dept.
“I love being a mentor to students and providing them with a safe place to learn.”
SROs also serve on the District Incident Command team. District and site leaders meet with local law enforcement partners quarterly to evaluate safety practices and protocols. These important meetings ensure strategic plans and preparations are up to date for various emergency scenarios.
At this month’s meeting, the group focused on reunification procedures. During a school emergency, especially in natural disaster situations like flooding or fire, there is a possibility that students may need to be evacuated to an alternative location. If the safest option is for students to be transported to an alternative location, this initiates reunification procedures – the process of reuniting students with their parent or guardian.
Manteca Unified currently has seven SROs who are dedicated to keeping our 32 school campuses safe. We are grateful for the support and commitment of our law enforcement agencies and emergency responders and their passion to help protect, support, and serve young people.
Learn more about safety in MUSD:
Visit: MUSD’s Safety Webpage
Read: Everyone is a Safety Officer
Manteca Police Dept.
“My favorite part about my job is having the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students in our community.”
“Being an SRO gives me the opportunity to be a positive role model and humanize law enforcement.”
Manteca Police Dept.
“My goal is to try and impact kids in a positive way so they learn to trust that the Police will help them when they are in need.”
“I love being an SRO because of the relationships I’m able to build with students.”
Stockton Police Dept.
“The best part of my job is getting to share conversations and laughs with students.”
Manteca Police Dept.
“I hope to help as much as I can, whether it is safety or mentorship for the students.”
Stephen Memory Matthew Hector Lathrop Police Dept. Clint Armstrong Lathrop Police Dept. Daniel Skrimager Brett Delgado Ryan Smith Edgar Montanez
