The new student resource officers hope to provide a safer school system in Southlake.
City View by John Terrell, Mayor of Southlake
The first day ofbrschool is here. It's a time filled with new experiences, new books, newbrbackpacks, new teachers, new friends and this year, something extra — schoolbrresource officers (SROs) in every Carroll school. For many years, SROs havebrbeen a part of life in Southlake's middle and high schools. This year, they willbrjoin the Carroll ISD intermediate and elementary schools. Many of you might rememberbrthe decision earlier this year to enhance the safety and security of CISDbrschools by adding an SRO to every campus by the beginning of the 2013–2014 schoolbryear. It was a tall order, but given the strong teamwork of the Southlake PolicebrDepartment, the city's Human Resource Department and Carroll ISD, I know webrhave hired the right people for the job.
Any hiring process takes time, but when you hire a police officer,brthe process becomes even lengthier and more in depth. Southlake Police ChiefbrStephen Mylett was specific in what he wanted to see in his officers: men andbrwomen with varied backgrounds who would provide a safer school system forbrSouthlake; officers who have enough experience to be designated as advanced-certifiedbrby the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education (TCLEOSE);brand people who have a heart for students and their families. I am happy tobrreport we have found those people. Here is the SRO team that will kick off thisbrschool year:
School Resource Officer Sergeant
Sgt. Randy Baker
Full-Time SROs
Officer Alan Smith
Officer Bret Wilson
Officer BlasbrHernandez
School-Year SROs
Officer Ken West
Officer Art Litke
Officer CherylbrWomack
Officer FrankbrLaGrassa
Officer RichardbrGallaway
Officer MatthewbrPetrie
Officer RobertbrSlusser
This fine group of officers will have a big impact on ourbrschools and our community and make deep and long-lasting connections withbrCarroll students and their families. Some of them have been with the SouthlakebrPolice Department for many years; others are continuing in their current rolesbras mentors in the high schools and middle schools. Still others come to us withbryears of experience in other cities that have helped make them leaders andbrgreat examples for our children who are learning life fundamentals at home andbrat school.
Nationally, the repercussions of what happened in Newtown, Conn.,brare still being felt. Here in Southlake, we have made the decision to trybrsomething I believe will give students and families an additional resource tobrlearn how to deal with our ever-changing society. Our children live in a differentbrworld than many of us remember growing up in, and we as parents and communitybrleaders have to change with it. We need to challenge what worked in the pastbrand work together to find new ways to support our kids to get through thebrissues that present themselves. Bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, alienation,bracademic and athletic stress are issues we have previously faced, but now we'vebrgot a team of people who are not only charged with helping keep our kids safebrbut will also serve as extra sets of eyes when needed.
I am excited for what's to come this school year. I look forwardbrto hearing about all of the successes, big and small, that are sure to be partbrof the 2013–14 story, and I hope you'll join me when I say to all of thebrstudents, teachers, school administrators and SROs: Have a great schoolbryear!
See you in Southlake.
John Terrell, vice president of commercial development for DFW Airport, has spent countless volunteer hours in service to the City of Southlake. He served two terms on the city council prior to becoming elected Southlake's Mayor in 2009 and again in 2012. Married to wife Joanne and father to two Dragons, the 2012 Southlake Citizen of the Year has called Southlake home for more than 15 years.