The Garland Police Department has Police Officers assigned to schools throughout the Garland Independent School District.  The School Resource Officer (SRO) program is based on the “Triad Concept” in which the Officer is an Educator, Counselor, and Law Enforcement Officers.

As an Educator, the SRO makes classroom presentations tailored to each grade level.  Examples include:  Introduction to the SRO program, Drugs and the Law, Alcohol & DWI, and Personal Safety and Protection. 

As a Counselor, the SRO must be an active listener and deal with topics such as accidental deaths, drug/alcohol abuse, student and family relations, and student safety.  Although they are usually not a state licensed counselor, they have experience and expertise in many of these areas and can make referrals to counseling services within the community.

As a Law Enforcement Officer, the SRO enforces laws from various sources, including the Texas Penal Code, Education Code, and the Family Code.  The SRO is often the primary investigator for crimes occurring on their school campus and for offenses occurring off-campus involving their students.

The SRO may participate in other activities as well, such as weapons screenings, attendance at extracurricular school activities, and taking action against trespassers or unwanted guests on school property.