RCS and RPD Expand School Resource Officer Program

Richmond Community Schools and the Richmond Police Department have solidified their partnership to enhance school safety with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding, which expands the School Resource Officer program. The agreement brings a minimum of four full-time SROs to RCS buildings, emphasizing safety and fostering positive relationships between students and law enforcement.

In a joint statement, 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 and 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐞𝐫 expressed their shared vision for the initiative:
"Today marks a significant step in uniting our city and our schools under one common goal: the safety and well-being of every child in Richmond," 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐞𝐫 . "As parents, neighbors, and community members, we want nothing more than for our schools to be sanctuaries of learning and growth. This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring that our children have the safe, supportive environment they deserve."

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 added, "This collaboration with Richmond Community Schools is about more than security—it's about trust, unity, and hope for our future. The officers in this program will serve not only as protectors but also as mentors, role models, and advocates for our youth. By coming together as a community, we reaffirm that our children's safety is not just a priority; it is our collective responsibility. We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with RCS to safeguard the next generation."

The new MOU focuses on key initiatives to enhance safety and build relationships:
• Educational programs to help students better understand the role of law enforcement.
• SRO participation in school activities to strengthen bonds with students.
• Coordinated responses to security incidents on school grounds.
• Collaborative strategies to address issues like truancy and student safety.
• Traffic management during peak school hours to ensure safety around campuses.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐋. 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 applauded the collaboration, stating, "This refined MOU reflects a shared dedication to our students, staff, and stakeholders. We are grateful for the unwavering support from the City of Richmond and the Richmond Police Department as we work together to create the safest possible environment for our children to learn and thrive."

The expanded SRO program took effect on January 22, 2025, with immediate implementation across all RCS schools.

Press Contacts
• Bridget Hazelbaker, Director of Student Support and Communications, RCS, 765-973-3329, [email protected]
• Adam Blanton, Assistant Chief of Police and Public Information Officer, RPD, 765-983-7247, [email protected]

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.