The School Resource Officer Program between Spring Township Police Department and the Wilson School District is a joint effort at community policing. The program was started in February 2002 with the goal being to have regular police presence in schools. This contact with students and staff benefits the police department by fostering cooperation to prevent and solve crimes on and off campus. There have been immediate results seen in this area since the inception of the program. Problems that were neglected for years have been addressed and the community has been positively impacted due to this program.

    Officer James W. Surgeoner is the School Resource Officer who developed the program that the police department and the school district are using. Officer Surgeoner attended a 40-hour training course at Fort Indiantown Gap July 29, 2002 through August 2, 2002, which was presented by the National Association of School Resource Officers (N.A.S.R.O.). Much of the Spring Township - Wilson program has been implemented in other school-police cooperative efforts throughout the United States. Some aspects of the program are unique to our area.

   Officer Surgeoner works from 7:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday and maintains an office in the Wilson High School building. The school district has equipped him with a phone extension, desk, office supplies, computer with internet access, and e-mail access to staff and students. Along with handling all incidents involving the Wilson School District, Officer Surgeoner is available to supplement school curriculum with presentations on Internet Safety, Crimes Code Updates, Vehicle Code Updates, Juvenile Law, Respect and Responsibility, Drug and Alcohol Issues, Domestic Violence, and other school-related topics. Already this school year Officer Surgeoner has taught a state approved Internet Safety class to all seventh grade students in the school district, as well as conducted several other presentations to all grade levels. Having a school resource officer available to students and staff provides them a ready resource on matters of law enforcement.

   Officer Surgeoner works closely with school officials in planning and preparation to address safety and crisis issues. Officer Surgeoner is a member of the school's crisis response team and advises them on issues as they relate to Law Enforcement. Officer Surgeoner sits on the Wilson Communities That Care Prevention board and attends the monthly meetings. He schedules police coverage for school related special events and makes suggestions on these deployments. Officer Surgeoner also serves as the truant officer for the Wilson School District and has implemented a more progressive strategy in dealing with and preventing truancy.

   By maintaining a direct link between the school district and the police department our community is better served. Not only is crime being prevented from occuring on campus, but crime is also being solved off campus. The school district and township have both benefited from this unique partnership.