Nebraska school resource officers say their job is more than just law enforcement

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – School resource officers are defending their work from critics, saying their job goes beyond criminal justice.

They say they also help teach students and provide counseling, while keeping both students and staff safe.

Officer Sean Kennett, a resource officer at Lux Middle School, said he’s always trying to ensure that students are taken care of.

“When you have the officers that are in the schools, and you’re working as community-based policing, it helps because you’re building those relationships,” he said. “Obviously, not everything is gonna deal with the criminal justice system. If they have other issues going on, mental health, or substance abuse issues, we can get those resources out to the community to help them.”

He said he’s always interacting with students during passing periods and checking in daily to see if any action needs to be taken.

Despite this, some say having law enforcement present in schools doesn’t make them any safer, and in fact creates more danger for students.

Rose Godinez, senior legal and policy counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, said by eliminating law enforcement in schools, more money and resources could be invested in school counselors and psychologists.

“Our major school districts in Nebraska are investing quite a bit of money into having law enforcement presence in schools,” she said. “That only contributes to the funneling of students of color, students with disabilities, into the school-to-prison pipeline.”

Godinez said this affects students’ mental health and future opportunities, making them less likely to graduate, apply for scholarships and go to college.

One officer with the Hastings Police Department, Brad Cunningham, says it isn’t law enforcement that leads to students’ struggles, but what goes on at home.

“I think the SROs prevent that, they have that positive interaction with the students, and they’re reaching out and showing them, ‘Hey, the cops are not bad; we’re here to help you,'” he said.

Cunningham believes that by having more resource officers, schools could better support students while protecting them from harm.

“You can’t put a price on your students,” he said. “These students are the future of our community. And keeping them safe needs to be a priority in everybody’s eyes, in the community’s eyes.”