MPD's School Resource Officers Celebrate End of School Year
Published on May 24, 2023
As the 2022-2023 school year comes to a close, we want to shine a spotlight on the Maricopa Police Officers who were on campuses across the city this year. From having first-day jitters to school spirit days, and now graduation for the many seniors these officers have done their best to support our next generation of leaders reach for success.
Currently, the School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit staffs a full-time officer at four different schools in Maricopa and will be expanding that to five in the fall.
The specialty unit is led by Sergeant P. O’Neal, who just celebrated 15 years with the Maricopa Police Department this past Spring. She says the mission of The SRO unit is to ensure a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and school administrators.
“We accomplished this by serving as a resource for students, parents, and faculty; by informally counseling students, serving as a positive role model through mentoring, teaching law-related education, and enforcing laws on and around school campuses,” Sgt. O’Neal explains. “SROs focus on prevention and problem-solving within our schools and help foster positive relationships between our community’s youth and law enforcement.”
While our officers set out to have an impact on our youth, it is clear they are impacted in return.
Continue reading to hear in their own words the hopes they have for students heading into the summer break.
2022-23 Maricopa School Resource Officers
School Resource Officer Z. Bittner
Maricopa High School
What has it meant to you to be an SRO this school year? Being able to help students with so many different situations each week has been very rewarding to me. I enjoy learning new things and then putting those skills into action for a positive outcome in the student's everyday life.
What is your favorite part about being an SRO? I enjoy working with the students and building those necessary relationships, and being a part of their successes during the school year.
Do you have a message for the kids you’ve worked with heading into the summer? Stay focused on your goals, spend time with family and friends but never stop building yourself up to who you want to become.
What are you looking forward to most about this summer? Not only spending time with my family and friends but spending time preparing for the fall semester to ensure all of my goals are met moving into the next school year.
School Resource Officer B. Brown
Desert Winds Middle School
What has it meant to you to be an SRO this school year? I spent the past 17 years on the job being reactive to situations, especially the last nine as a detective. Now it's cool to be proactive in building relationships with students and encouraging them before anything happens.
What is your favorite part about being an SRO? I enjoy giving the students a real experience with the police, not what the TV or social media says, but how we really are. Not to mention I can do that while giving them a sense of security.
Do you have a message for the kids you’ve worked with heading into the summer? Make good choices.
What are you looking forward to most about this summer? I'm in charge of the Teen Academy. I started this three years ago, and it's a fantastic week-long adventure where our Department teaches teens life skills. So I get to dedicate even more time to building up the next generation of leaders.
School Resource Officer M. Rexinger
Sequoia Pathway Academy
What has it meant to you to be an SRO this school year? It has meant a great deal to me to be a part of the growth of the students and staff throughout the entire school year.
What is your favorite part about being an SRO? The ability to constantly interact with the students in a positive way and often change their perceptions of who a police officer is.
Do you have a message for the kids you’ve worked with heading into the summer? Have fun, enjoy the time off, and make smart choices.
What are you looking forward to most about this summer? Spending time with my family and going on vacations.
School Resource Officer T. Slider
Maricopa Wells Middle School
What has it meant to you to be an SRO this school year? Being an SRO this school year has meant growth. Watching the kids grow and come into their own has been such a joy to watch and be part of. I, personally, have experienced growth as well through my interactions with the students, staff, parents, and community. As always, there were highs and lows, but overall, this year has reinforced to me that an SRO on campus is rich in meaning and value. It has truly highlighted the importance of putting in the work to build relationships.
What is your favorite part about being an SRO? My favorite part of being an SRO is the moments when all the efforts have come to fruition. It is receiving those cards saying, “Thank you for believing in me” and “Thank you for keeping us safe.” Those candy drop-offs with happy notes, and those little faces peeking into my office just checking in to see how I am doing and wanting to talk. Those hugs from kids whose faces show they really need one.
It is those moments I walk into the school and am greeted by friendly and joyful staff members. The times of exhaustion and laughter between staff and me that follow chaos. There are so many “favorites” it is difficult to narrow it down to one. I sum it up to say my favorite part of being an SRO is knowing I am here to protect everyone at the school in an environment that is challenging but full of joy.
Do you have a message for the kids you’ve worked with heading into the summer? My message to the kids I have worked with who are heading into the summer is this: know what you stand for.
You cannot blame others for your decisions and actions you take. NO excuses. Stay true to the path that gets you to your end goals. Don’t do anything you would not want your most favorite person in the world to see. NOTHING is personal. Stop taking things personally. SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Do not be part of the problem, be part of the solution. BE HAPPY. There are enough things in this life to bring you down if you let them. Be PURPOSEFUL about keeping a smile and choosing to be happy. After all, as the saying goes, you never know the impact your smile can have on just one person who sees it. And finally, HAVE FAITH!
P.S. You all know I have Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership in my office. Print this out for yourself.
P.S.S. Thank you for adding value to my life. You will be missed! Be safe!
What are you looking forward to most about this summer? What I am looking forward to the most this summer is getting in the pool and catching up on my reading.