The School Resource Officer is a liaison between the Police Department, the public-school districts and other school facilities with the purpose of maintaining safe school campuses. They investigate and prevent criminal and education code violations, act as a liaison with the public and private schools, provide proactive solutions to juvenile crime and campus problems.

SRO Mission

The mission of the Chula Vista Police Department’s School Resource Officer Program is to provide leadership and a safe learning environment for the students, staff, and parents of our school communities. Our mission is to develop and maintain a positive partnership with the school districts, other agencies, and community groups through PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION, and ENFORCEMENT.

Meet the SRO Team

The Chula Vista Police Department School Resource Officer Program has a complement of highly skilled and trained officers. Our Department hiring practices are one of the strictest in the county and we are proud to say that we hire the best and brightest! We also have very strict policies and our officers use them with the best interest of the community and the citizens they engage with. More specifically to the SRO Team, the training they receive addresses issues that children and youth encounter on campus and the surrounding areas. Please click here to get to know the SRO Team.  

SRO Role

A School Resource Officer is a liaison between the Police Department, the public-school districts and other school facilities with the purpose of maintaining safe school campuses. School Resource Officers are a part of our educational community. They act as a liaison with the public and private schools, provide proactive solutions to juvenile crime and campus problems, aid in the protection and security of school campuses, students, staff and their families, provide resources, foster and maintain positive relationships with the student population, investigate and prevent criminal code violations, act as mentors and role models for students, assist district personnel when required to reduce and education code violations, collaborate with community-based organizations in the best interests of the health and welfare of students, and assist fellow officers with the patrol of school campuses and surrounding areas.

SRO Goal

It is the goal of the School Resource Officer Unit to create a sense of overall safety through close contact with students, their families and school faculty. This program was designed to assist students in the Elementary Schools and Middle and High Schools to obtain an equal opportunity to achieve academic, social and community success in a safe environment. The connection established between students and officers starting in Elementary Schools provides an opportunity for children to get know their SROs. SROs build relationships with these children through programs such as Safety Patrol, Shoe and Sock Drive, and Red Ribbon Week, to name a few. This connection then transfers to Middle and High Schools and continues positive interactions between students and officers. Relationships and a strong rapport can continue to grow ensuring trust between students, officers, and school staff. 

Schools Supported

The SRO Unit provides service to approximately 70,560 students across 52 miles:

14 High Schools
7 Middle Schools
45 Elementary Schools
2 Adult Schools
4 Private Schools

Staying Engaged with the Community

The Chula Vista Police Department SROs in collaboration with our community partnerships work together and coordinate programs and events that help Chula Vista residents thrive and stay safe. It is through these successful partnerships and our popular programs that the SROs continue to stay engaged with the parents, guardians and children while outside school facilities. Click here to learn more.

SRO Dashboard

To view the dashboard, press the opposing arrows button (bottom right corner). Press "Esc" on your keyboard to minimize it again.

Resources

Beyond the public service provided by the SROs, the following are a listing of resources you can use, research or recommend based on the specific need. These are only a handful of resources. There are several other resources the department or other agencies may be able to provide. Please feel free to contact us if you or someone you know needs help. To reach an SRO, please email JPicone@chulavistapd.org

P3TIPs

The P3 platform enables the public to share information anonymously with Crime Stoppers programs, Law Enforcement entities, schools, and large corporations around the world.  If you have crime or safety related information that may be deemed useful in your community, submit a tip via this web page – or download the P3 Community App via the links on this page. Your anonymity is protected at all times.  In many cases, your information may be eligible for a reward offered by a local program.  If your information relates to students or campus safety in your community, please visit www.p3campus.com. To download the app, please visit www.p3tips.com

Finding Alternatives to Detention and Enforcement

The mission of the SRO program is focused on prevention, intervention, and education before enforcement is needed. SRO Officers seek to find success in our youth without involving the criminal justice system, and have specialized training and resources that make this possible. The officers’ work to build positive relationships with our youth and provide leadership and mentorship. The SRO program has access to a wide variety of services and providers to provide full, wrap-around care to students and their families.

The Chula Vista Police Department maintains a strong partnership with South Bay Community Services (SBCS), a community-based behavioral health care organization offering a continuum of services. Several SBCS counselors and staff work within the offices of the SRO program, working beside and in cooperation with our SRO officers. This also allows the SRO officers to offer services and assistance beyond the capabilities of the Police Department alone. Through comprehensive and coordinated services and support, SBCS assists all individuals and all communities to reach their fullest potential. For more information, please visit https://sbcssandiego.org/

SBCS Youth Prevention and Intervention (YPI) provides gender-responsive prevention, diversion and intervention support services for at-risk youth, ages 6 to 18, and their families. Schools, law enforcement, and partnering agencies refer youth to us who may have a multitude of challenges, so it is crucial to provide a strength-based family approach to meet the whole need. For specific information on YPI, please visit https://sbcssandiego.org/youth-prevention-intervention/

Free Counseling Services for Children

Violence in the home has a profound impact on a child’s present and future.  Our support services provide your child with a safe, nurturing and confidential place to heal.  Contact (619) 420-3620.

Housing Assistance for Youth

Assistance for San Diego County youth between the ages of 12 and 24 is available for those experiencing housing instability. Our support includes:

• Linkages to family finding/reunification, safe emergency shelter and stable housing; 
• Assistance in addressing immediate needs including food, transportation and identification;  
• Linkages to emotional/mental health,  independent living skills and career/educational support;  
• Prevention services for youth at-risk of sexual abuse and/or exploitation.  

For more information, please call (619) 498-0555.

Bullying Prevention and Intervention

The San Diego County Office of Education is dedicated to supporting school district offices, parents, and community-based agencies in issues related to bullying prevention and intervention by providing training, staff development, technical assistance, and consultation. There are a variety of resources offered to schools, students and parents. For more information, please visit https://www.sdcoe.net/Pages/Home.aspx

Suicide Prevention and Support

To access different resources for mental health and suicide prevention visiting the San Diego County UP2sd at https://up2sd.org/resources/suicide-prevention-and-support/

Students Speaking Out

Students Speaking Out is a program of San Diego County Crime Stoppers a community-based nonprofit organization (501c3). Students Speaking Out was inspired by our Campus Crime Stoppers program which has helped to solve hundreds crimes on local school campuses and led to the safe removal of 12 guns from middle and high schools in San Diego County. For more information, please visit http://www.studentsspeakingout.org/

Other Educational Resources

For additional educational videos, resources and interactive websites, click here.