Back-to-school: Resource officers trained to maintain safety

BEHIND THE BADGE

CONVERSATION WITH POLICE CHIEF STEVE PEREZ

The sight of kids walking with backpacks, big yellow school buses driving around, flashing school zone lights, and crossing guards out on the streets only means one thing, another school year has begun.

The first days of school are always extra exciting and busy, mainly because parents enjoy dropping their little ones (and sometimes not-so-little anymore) off at school. But even before the first bell rang, our officers were preparing for the year ahead.

A week into the new school year at the Boerne Independent School District, we are still shaking off the summer rust, but it appears everyone is settling back into their normal routines.

Our priority at the Boerne Police Department during the first week remains on school and traffic safety. We heard several complaints about the traffic but know it will slowly fade as parents and students get back into a routine.

Our School Resource Officers (SROs), along with our officers on patrol, were present at the schools to ensure students, parents, teachers, and staff could quickly get from point A to B while never losing focus of their primary goal -- keeping everyone safe.

With school now under way, the next thing we will see are events, activities, and athletics taking place before and after school hours. Please be mindful of the school zones and the crossing guards on our streets and intersections.

Also, don’t forget about our school buses. When the lights start flashing, it means to stay behind and stop. Do not attempt to pass a stopped school bus. Stay off the cellphones and please be patient.

One of the best tools we have on campus is our SROs. The Boerne Police Department now has nine SROs in the schools within the city limits, while the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and Fair Oaks Ranch Police Department have SROs at the campuses in their jurisdictions.

While your children enjoyed the summer off, our SROs spent many hours in the classroom preparing for the school year. They conducted numerous hours of training on shooting, tactics, and even first-aid.

Thanks to generous donors and our very own Police Foundation, our SROs and schools are properly equipped with the necessary equipment needed in the event of a major crisis. I believe this training is paramount for not only our officers and SROs, but for everyone inside our campuses.

We know it is important to work with our local law enforcement partners, EMS, and fire departments. That is why we continuously collaborate and build upon our fundamental relationships to be prepared for a major emergency, whether it be at one of our schools or within the Kendall County community.

We will continue to work with our school partners and provide quality training to our officers and SROs.

I hope we all cherish these precious moments, as I am sure the parents of seniors can still remember sending their babies off on the first day of school. From our PD family to yours, stay safe.