NCJ Number
203392
Journal
Campus Safety Journal Volume: 11 Issue: 11 Dated: December 2003 Pages: 16,18,20
Date Published
December 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Campus Supervisor Team concept designed to keep the Natrona County School District safe from gang violence and graffiti.
Abstract
The Natrona County School District in Casper, WY developed the idea of a Campus Supervisor Team when the school district began to see the early signs of gang infiltration and recruitment. The new police chief proposed the idea of “school assigned officers” who would wear no badges, no uniforms, no POST certifications, and have no security officer titles. The concept works under a decentralized model in which campus-based management is turned over to individual school administrators. While there is an overall job description and model to provide direction, the school administrators can modify how the school security is carried out. The article describes the supervisor’s key contacts and responsibilities, as well as the supervisor’s interactions with the school, the campus supervisor, the public, and the legal community. One of the unique aspects of this concept, in comparison to other campus safety programs, is how calls for assistance are made to the local police department. Rather than go through a dispatch system, the school district and the city entered into a contract that assigns two patrol officers to the school district that respond to calls from the school “as needed.” The specialized training of these officers is recounted, and includes intervention skills, knowledge of community counseling services, and demonstrated patience in dealing with students. Finally, the article describes the required certifications that these officers must possess, such as crisis prevention intervention and first aid. The program is considered effective and there has been no recognized gang activity or graffiti since its implementation.