A look into the SRO presence at Urbana High

By Molly Sweeney and Ayesha Mehta

This semester at Urbana High School, multiple threats have been made to the school, as well as recurring acts of violence. In response to this, the school has employed a plain-clothes police officer. Data has shown that, while school resource officers (SRO) can help keep schools safe, their presence also poses serious challenges.

Matt Bain, sergeant in the Urbana Police Department, at first glance does not appear to be a police officer. When interviewed for this story, notably wearing an Urbana Athletics polo, he came across more as a staff member. He believes “one long term goal should be is that there is a full time school resource officer at Urbana High School and probably middle school too.” He adds, “that’s not up to the police department; it’s something that the school district will have to decide.”

“The reason that we’re here is to number one have that police presence, number two and be able to respond when something happens.” His response to a serious threat to the school, such as a serious gun threat would be to “address it and call in other police officers with my police radio. If I can’t find where they are, I will try to coordinate that within the school to try to find where they are.”

Currently in the school there is only one school resource officer assigned. Deloris Brown, building principal acknowledges that “The police is a short-term solution to help the community, teachers, parents, and students restore confidence back into public education.”

In regards to the threats that have been made to the school, Deloris Brown was unable to give specific details regarding the threats due to confidentiality. She did add though that “most of the threats have been minor but have been blown out of proportion by others. There have been no threats against the school itself, but threats to individuals that, as the building leader I have to take seriously.”

Despite good intentions, some students believe that the police presence is causing more tension than it is aiding the school environment. Senior, Grace Yepez-Conners comments that, “it’s intimidating that they’re here.”

The SRO presence at schools is controversial and there will always be strong opinions for and against it. What is most important is determining what works best for each particular school. Urbana is still finding that balance.