School Resource Officers (SROs)
School Resource Officer Program
School Resource Officers are Calgary Police Service officers placed in schools. A School Resource Officer (SRO) generally has a background working with youth, families and community-based programs.
School Resource Officers:
- provide a visible and positive image of law enforcement
- are usually seen as mentors to students
- provide advice and guidance
- help with instances of bullying, cyberbullying and school violence
- provide information about the law and safety, both in and out of school
- deliver presentations to students about bullying, sexual consent, and drug awareness
- lead or assist with investigations into criminal activity that occurs on school property or that involves students
- refer students to youth and community-based programs
- assist with lockdown drills, as required by school boards
History School Resource Officers in Calgary
The SRO program has operated in Calgary since 1976 and currently serves more than 400 schools across four school divisions:
- Calgary Board of Education
- Calgary Catholic School District
- FrancoSud School Board
- Palliser School Division
The program:
- fosters partnerships among law enforcement, schools, and the community
- helps to ensure safe school environments, successful students and productive citizens
SROs in Calgary are assigned to provide ongoing support to junior high schools and high schools. Most Calgary Police Service SROs are assigned to more than one school.
A small team of SROs provides support to elementary schools across Calgary by delivering safety presentations and assisting schools with lockdown drills, as required by school boards.
The SRO program is fully funded through the Calgary Police Service.
Who is my School Resource Officer?
To find out who your School Resource Officer is, contact the main office of your school.
If your school does not have a dedicated SRO, report any incidences of bullying or criminal activity to the school administration. They can direct you to a police officer if they feel it is necessary.
School Resource Officer Program Review
The Calgary Police Service strives to provide Calgarians with a police service that is committed to dismantling systems of inequity, and that is relentless in our pursuit of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion.
In June 2020, the CPS made a commitment to address systemic racism in a Notice of Motion to Calgary City Council.
Between 2020 and 2023, the CPS facilitated an independent review of the SRO program, to hear about the perspectives of Calgary students who identify as Racialized, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+, along with students with disabilities, and hear about the experiences they have had with police officers in Calgary schools.
The review included:
- an independent survey from students, parents, teachers, administrators and CPS officers
- virtual events
- webinars
- interviews
- email submissions
- a web portal
- roundtable sessions
The full reports from the review are available at Our Commitment: Relentless in Our Pursuit of Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion.
Through the review, some students expressed that they have had negative experiences in schools with police officers, and that the CPS has contributed to some students’ feelings of hurt, anger and fear toward police. The CPS acknowledges the harm the policing institution has caused and is committed to reimagining the SRO program in a way that ensures all students in schools feel safe and are treated equally.
Moving forward
The CPS has formed the SRO Reimagination Working Group to discuss feasibility of the SRO program recommendations and to create a plan for implementation.
An external SRO Reimagination Advisory Board has been established, which allows school staff and community members who represent equity-deserving groups to advise about police presence in schools going forward.
Related pages
School Resource Officer Review
Our Commitment: Relentless in our Pursuit of Anti-racism, Diversity and Inclusion