Stroudsburg - The Stroudsburg Area School District and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department are announce the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program within the Stroudsburg High School. The School District and the Police Department have engaged in this partnership to provide the safest possible learning environment for the students, staff and the community.

The Stroud Area Regional Police Department has assigned Officer Jennifer Lyon to be the School Resource Officer. She will be assigned full time to the Stroudsburg High School .

The Stroudsburg School District and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department are working together to confront problems our students must face today. By addressing these issues together and proactively, we become increasingly effective.

Throughout the United States each year over 200,000 violent crimes occur on school property. Each year 150,000 students stay home because they are “sick of violence and afraid they might be stabbed, shot or beaten”. Everyday in the U.S. 60 teachers are assaulted and 160 are threatened. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 135,000 guns are brought to school each day. 91% of urban school, 81% of suburban school, and 69% of rural school identified student vs. student assaults as the leading school related violent act.

Although most statistics are nationwide, we can see the trend. A SRO, if utilized correctly, should be the first line of defense against gangs, drugs, alcohol, and school violence. The supreme Court recognized the effects that gangs and drugs have in our school and have ruled that “gangs and drugs” are inherently dangerous. They have also stated that every student in the United States has the right to feel safe while attending school.

Through prevention programs, it is hoped that in Stroudsburg, we can reverse the trends that are hurting our youth and education. The SRO program is an excellent resource to ensure a safe environment for education. The school system and police department understands and believes that we hold the future of youth in our hands.