By Christian Warren Freed
There’s no doubt the world has changed. Back when I went to school, every pickup in the parking lot had a gunrack in the back window, hunter safety was conducted in shop class, we all got the first day of buck season off, and every boy had a pocketknife handed down by their father. Flash forward a few decades and this whole scenario is pretty much unthinkable. School safety has ratcheted up over the years and understandably so.
Police officers across the nation have been detailed to spending their days inside our schools. Whether in the smallest farm community or a major city, you can bet you’ll find their office somewhere close to the main administrative hubs.
Holly Springs is one of the few towns in the state fortunate enough to have an active-duty resource officer in each school. They are uniformed officers meant to be the first line of defense for our children if anything goes wrong, but they support our kids and schools in other ways, too.
I reached out to Sergeant Tom Brienzi of our very own Holly Springs Police Department. Tom serves as the supervisor for our SRO team. He has been in uniform for several years and felt the calling to move from the streets to the schools. With an extensive background in SWAT/SRT, Tom has done everything from hostage negotiation and crisis intervention to specializing in domestic violence cases.
When I asked what drew him to the school resource role, he had an inspiring explanation: “I was drawn to the SRO unit for several reasons. First and foremost was the need for additional attention to be spent on the safety and security of the children within our schools. Having a tactical background, I recognized a significant need for additional resources within our schools. It is well known that threats and targeted violence towards the school environment is on the rise and as part of a progressive agency, we must all do our part to ensure that our community remains safe.
“On a personal level, I felt the need to connect with the youth within our community, to have a chance to be a part of their lives and to mentor children who may not have a role model. SROs are a rare breed that choose to specialize in one of the most pivotal aspects of our future. We take an active role in diverting children from the criminal justice system and preventing recidivism. We have relationships with children that last a lifetime and are rewarded every time a child becomes a productive member of society.
“There are several differences between an SRO and a patrol officer. We are all ‘regular’ officers. SROs are focused on mentoring, teaching, counseling, and being a part of every child’s community. We are invited into their world and are privileged to have the opportunity to connect with juveniles from all walks of life.”
It’s important to note that Tom describes SROs as not just police in schools. They are vital community members who form family-like relationships with those they interact with and are dedicated to the success of each and every person. Every SRO is a police force veteran who specializes in working with juveniles. Their duties range from mentoring our youths to identifying juveniles suspected of committing crimes and keeping them from making mistakes that might haunt them later.
Tom says, “This can be a very long and difficult process to navigate. An officer has the responsibility to represent society as a whole and to ensure that the community remains safe; however, it is readily known and acknowledged that juveniles have not fully developed impulse control and require additional guidance and mentoring to ensure that they develop in a way that will make them successful in the future.”
The SRO can be the key to that juvenile’s success and the difference between a young person making one poor decision or a young person becoming a repeat offender due to the inability to afford the appropriate resources when it was a pinnacle point in the child’s life. The SRO is the line between a positive law enforcement encounter and the potential for a lifetime of resentment towards law enforcement.
“SROs mentor children, but also regularly educate officers on juvenile resources and the ability to use discretion, to keep children out of the criminal justice system, unless absolutely necessary. We provide officers with resources that best suit the needs of the juveniles, making sure that the focus remains on the child’s mental health and well-being first.”
Tom has witnessed the impacts an SRO can have on children. They form bonds to bridge gaps and allow both sides to truly see each other outside of the traditional parameters we are so often mired in. Officers and students see each other at their best and help each other when they are at their worst. The uniqueness of this relationship not only strengthens the community, it fosters an atmosphere of understanding and teamwork that is lacking in today’s societies.
“Some parents have said that we have ‘saved their lives.’ The impact is in the eye of the beholder. I know that children have taught me more than I could ever hope to teach them. They give me the opportunity to be a part of their lives. They show us that the future can be as bright as we allow it to be. Children today are extremely intelligent, and they are truly in a position to change the world.”
If you are reading this and already in law enforcement but looking for a change of pace and a unique mission that might make you more integral to the community, you might want to consider going the SRO route. Tom’s advice is, “You need to be kind, humble, and open minded. SROs are simply a member of the school community. We are a resource, a friend, a counselor, and if need be… a parental figure. Our goal is to have a positive impact on children and to reveal that police officers are human as well.”
Recognizing that today’s children face adult situations much sooner in life than most of us did, it is also important to understand that they hold the world at their fingertips thanks to the intrusion of smart phones. Not only do smart phones make the world a smaller place, they place unnecessary burdens on a generation trying to figure out where they fit in life.
The importance of having an additional mentor-like figure in our schools, a stalwart protector with the capacity to advise and guide without judgment, is integral to sustaining the future potential of our outstanding youth. Holly Springs is fortunate to have law enforcement officers like Sergeant Tom Brienzi standing watch.
In closing, Officer Brienzi adds, “SROs are not perfect by any means, but they are a phenomenal beginning to foster relationships that create a mutual respect for years to come.”
Happy New Year, Holly Springs. It’s safe to say we’re in good hands.
