In the wake of recent school violence tragedies, the safety of students has become a more important topic than ever. Schools today are going to great lengths to create safety plans and emergency protocols that can be quickly put into place should the need for increased security arise. One of the most important factors in planning school safety is to have the right team in place. More than 50% of schools hire school security officers to lead security initiatives and protect their students.
Who is a School Security Officer?
School security officers are also known as resource officers or school police. This position is one of the fastest-growing in the field of law enforcement. Becoming a school security officer requires special training that prepares someone to handle everything from severe weather events to dangerous intruders.
Necessary skills of successful school security officers include:
- Surveillance
- Patrolling
- Investigation
- Intervention
- Crowd management
- Technology applications
- Communication
- Proactive thinking
- Physical strength
- ...and more
Specific duties of school security officers vary based upon the needs of the school that hired them.
What Main Responsibilities do School Security Officers Have?
The primary responsibility of a school security officer is to keep their school and its students safe. On any given day an officer might find themselves:
- Patrolling the school hallways
- Watching surveillance cameras
- Investigating suspicious activity
- Controlling a crowd at an event
- Conducting school-wide safety training
One of the most important duties of school security officers is understanding and directing school emergency protocols. Their expertise in handling difficult situations allows them to be the first line of defense during sensitive or emergency times. Schools that employ school security officers find that having safety experts on staff alleviates the pressure put on teachers and gives them the advantage of employing professionals who know exactly how to handle every situation.
Are School Security Officers Essential to School Safety?
Many schools require their school security officers to carry guns that they can use as a line of defense. There are differing opinions on whether armed security guards are the best choice for school safety. Guns or no guns, however, it’s evident that school security guards provide a level of protection that other positions can’t offer.
Schools that employ security officers experience lower levels of vandalism, violence, and truancy among their students. These factors alone are invaluable and provide peace of mind to parents, teachers, and students alike. If you’re interested in becoming a school security officer, enrolling in a reputable training program is essential for success.
Enroll in Online Security Officer Training Today
The National Investigative Training Academy, Inc. (NITA) provides online courses for security officers in a variety of fields. All of the courses NITA offers are authored by industry experts and designed to provide students with a beneficial educational experience. Some of the most popular online security officer courses offered by NITA include:
- Bomb Threat Awareness
- Field Notes & Report Writing
- Effective Communication
- Crowd Control
These courses are not your traditional security-themed ones and are designed to prepare you for a successful career as a security officer.
Enroll in security officer training courses through NITA at any time of day or night. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll have access to all of the course materials from your computer or mobile device wherever you are in the world. There are no specific requirements to enroll in online courses with NITA. All you need is an email address and access to the internet.
To get started on your journey toward an exciting career in the security field, enroll in online training courses today. Call NITA at (800) 730-6482 or contact us online to learn more.
Our enrollment counselors are here to answer any questions you might have about our state- and board-approved status, pre-licensing training, or professional development programs.
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