School Resource Officers
The Youth Services Section is comprised of School Resource Officers , the Multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team , and the Hometown Recruiting Program .
The School Resource Officer Unit ( SRO ) consists of three sergeants and 22 officers who are assigned to each of Arlington ISD ’ s high schools , junior high schools , and the Career & Technical Center . Officers partner with the school district to provide a safe and secure learning environment for educators and students .
SROs are involved in youth outreach initiatives like the High School Citizens Police Academy , Police Explorers Program , Police Activities League Camps , and the Hometown Recruiting Program . The unit also partners with Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County to promote that program within schools and to thoroughly investigate the tips it generates .
2020 presented several unique challenges for the unit , as the pandemic forced school districts across the state to temporarily shut down school buildings and reimagine the learning process . Despite these hurdles , the SRO Unit found ways to adapt .
The unit was able to maintain its Police Explorers program , which currently has 20 students . When meetings and activities could not be held in person , officers held meetings virtually via Zoom and Microsoft Teams . Despite the adverse conditions , SROs were able to dedicate 481 hours to the program in 2020 .
The Multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team ( MTAT ) is a collaboration between the Arlington Police Department , Arlington ISD , and My Health My Resources of Tarrant County to promote a safe school environment by assessing a student ’ s risk for engaging in violence or other harmful activities and identifying strategies to intervene .
MTAT has conducted more than 350 assessments since the start of the 2020-2021 school year .
The Hometown Recruiting Program ( HRP ) is an ongoing initiative that gives high school students interested in a law enforcement career the opportunity to explore and pursue their dreams . It also provides the department with an additional recruiting pipeline full of individuals who already have strong ties to , and a vested interest , in the Arlington community .
Two graduates of the program were hired by the department in 2020 . Officer Jason Vu , a member of HRP Class 1 , completed the APD Basic Training Academy and is currently in field training . Detention Officer Tram Do , a member of HRP Class 6 , currently works in the city jail .
Arlington , Texas Police Department |
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