Wake County schools holds annual SRO summit ahead of 2025-26 school year
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- School resource officers and Wake County school staff convened for their annual summit at Millbrook High School on Tuesday, ahead of the new school year.
School Resource Officers (SRO) summit included law enforcement officials, school principals, and WCPSS security administrators, with 82 schools participating, including every high school in the district.
The summit is an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss various topics involving student safety.
Senior Director of security Kendrick Scott told Eyewitness News that the model for SRO has changed over the years, and they are focused on creating a community policing environment for teachers and students in each school.
"They're going from a police function to working at school. That's a very different environment, so their thing is really 'how do I come in here and form those relationships with kids where they will come to me and bring me information?'... it's more of a community policing model," he said.
This year, the summit introduced the Rave Panic Button app for all faculty, and law enforcement officials learned more about their role in behavioral threat assessments.
"Do I think it will help arm us and better us deal with incidents as they do arise? Absolutely," Veteran SRO Sgt. Brienzi said. "I can say our focus is to prevent that incident from ever getting to the school."
Ultimately, the goal is to build relationships with students and create a safe, trusting environment.
