Community Policing Officers
As an officer involved in community policing you will have much to offer a local Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. You may already be aware of traffic safety or personal security problems around schools in your community. Because of your knowledge of local neighborhoods and training as a problem solver you will be a valuable member of a local Safe Routes to School committee.
Ways to Get Involved:
- Identify schools in your jurisdiction where speeding or other unlawful motorist behavior is a problem, particularly those that already have some students walking and/or bicycling to school. A quick speed study near several schools you suspect may have problems is one way to start.
- Be a SRTS team member by providing needed enforcement operations for the SRTS program such as speed control, yielding to pedestrians, student jaywalking, and driver adherence with school drop-off and pick-up procedures.
- Help a local SRTS steering committee assess bicycle and pedestrian safety and personal security around the school and in surrounding neighborhoods.
- Provide daily or periodic police presence during school access hours at identified problem areas (traffic safety or personal security concerns), provide support to crossing guards where needed.
- Get publicity for your activities! This will help raise awareness about the issues community-wide.
- Help educate students and parents about bicycle and pedestrian safety and concerns they may have about personal security issues.
- Talking Points: Addressing Parents
Finding Funding:
Depending on your level of involvement and the extent of your program's SRTS activities, you may want to seek federal funds or assist others in doing so. Click here for more information on funding for SRTS programs.
Note: Under the Federal SRTS program, States are authorized to fund only those activities that are directed towards students in grades k–8 and within two miles of the school site.