APD Annual Reports - 2017 Annual Report | Page 51

Support Operations Bureau School Resource Unit • The School Resource Unit has officers assigned to all high schools and junior high campuses. • Officers partnered with the Boys & Girls Club to host several summer activities. • Police Explorers took several top awards during competitions in 2017 The School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit has 19 officers assigned to area high schools, junior high campuses, and the new Career Technology Center. SROs work with school officials to ensure students have a safe and great experience while attending school. Programs such as Campus Crime Stoppers, anti-bullying efforts, and youth mentoring opportunities afford students a learning environment where they can achieve their best. Each year, SROs participate and host Police Athletic League (PAL) Camps. PAL is a youth community relations program designed to focus on building positive relationships between police and youth. SROs also partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to host activities for 7th and 8th grade students during the summer. The unit hosted three 3-day camps at Trinity United Methodist Church with 84 students, 63 of which belonged to the Boys and Girls Clubs. Arlington, Texas Police Department The High School Citizens Police Academy graduated 36 high school students in 2017. The program engages students to reinforce a better understanding of the department and policing. Students attend a 16-week program designed to familiarize themselves with the day-to-day operations of the department. Youth Explorers reach teens over the age of 14 who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. They participate in community service events and assist in some departmental operations. The team also competes in competitions held throughout the year. Explorers won 1st place in Plano X competition, 1 st and 5 th place overall at the state competition, and took several more honors in other events. Hometown Recruiting continued to rise to new heights where high school students can earn dual college credit and receive hiring incentives upon graduation of a college degree. The program, in partnership with Arlington ISD and University of Texas at Arlington, boasts an academy during high school and additional training opportunities throughout the course of the program. The department anticipates seeing the first graduates of the program in the coming 12-24 months as new recruits. 51