Police Services
School Resource Officer
The Sunnyside Police Department was the first police department in the State of Washington to establish a DARE curriculum in its schools. This program has 
since evolved into a full time School Resource program.
The department has a Sergeant, two officers and a GREAT (Gang Resistance Education) officer assigned to the schools full time.
The SRO's have been a "true" success. Daily law enforcement contact with students 
has improved relationships. Students greet the SRO's without hesitation. Our students routinely invite the SRO's to their school functions. SRO's enjoy contact with students on a positive note.
Resource officers are called into classrooms as guest speakers on topics such as radar and fingerprinting.
The school administration encourages the officers presence to promote safety, build relationships with 
school staff and the school body.
Patrol officers appreciate the SRO's as they have reduced the number of patrol division responses to the school.
The resource officers have seen a decline in violence in the 
schools. During the first year of the program there were 15 fight calls in the first 45 days of school. During the second year there was only one during this same time period.
The program has truly been successful and all involved wonder how we did without it.
