Since 1990, the Brantford Police Service has continued to deliver the High School Resource Officer (HSRO) Program in our City. The history of the HSRO Program dates back to the early part of 1990, when retired Chief Bob Peeling, then Deputy Chief, invited both Boards of Education to join our Service in a partnership to bring the HSRO Program to Brantford. This innovative, pilot project was the first of its kind in Ontario.
The Separate School Board agreed to enter the partnership and in September 1990, Constable Bill Doherty, our first HSRO, was assigned to St. John?s College.
The HSRO Program was well-received by School Board officials, principals, teachers, parents, and most importantly the students. In September 1992, Assumption College, a second Separate high school, was built and the duties of the HSRO at St. John?s were divided between the two schools.
Due to the increasing success of the program, beginning in September 1999, the HSRO Program was expanded into the Public School Board, with the addition of three secondary schools taking part, thanks to partial funding from a Community Partnerships Program Grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General. Pauline Johnson Collegiate, North Park Collegiate and Tollgate Technical Skills Centre became involved in the program.
The program expanded again when Brantford Collegiate Institute welcomed an HSRO in September 2000. There was no better way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the HSRO Program than by the full participation of all high schools in the City. What began as one high school involved in a one-year pilot project, grew to include all six secondary schools in Brantford.
Since the inception of the program, constables chosen as HSROs are selected by a panel of school principals and senior staff of the Service. These professionals must have a demonstrated keen interest in working with young people. They are all involved in the extra-curricular activities taking place at their high schools such as coaching football, volleyball and basketball. The main reason for the continued success of the program is the high-calibre officers selected as Resource Officers. When you consider that during the school year HSROs interact with approximately 7,000 high school students in Brantford, the positive effects will be realized for years to come.
The program runs from September to June each school year. During July and August, HSROs are reassigned to other areas of the Service to strengthen manpower over the summer months.
The mandate of the HSRO Program is:
To provide the opportunity for students to form a better understanding of the role of the police officer in the community, and the individual citizen?s responsibility to the community, the law and the enforcement of the law.
Some of the duties of the HSRO include:
? provide guidance and direction to students, parents and teachers;
? participate as a resource person in classroom discussions, assemblies and with parent groups;
? interpret the law to students;
? prevent juvenile delinquency through close contact with students and personnel;
? improve the image of the Police Service;
? assist in the protection of the school, staff and students in accordance with the duties of a police officer.
