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Many parents get concerned when they hear that deputies are teaching their third graders the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program and fear that this will somehow create a fascination with firearms for the child. Rest assured as this is far from the case. The program is basically this: Real guns can look like play guns so treat them all like real guns. Treat all guns as if they are loaded and dangerous. If you see a gun leave it alone. Don't touch it! Leave the area! Tell an adult whom you trust immediately what you have found!
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For Many Kids Today
The purpose and mission of the Orange County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer program is the commitment our agency has to children. Deputies work closely with educators to develop plans to prevent or reduce dangerous situations in our public schools. They serve as role models with good communication skills to convey the correct message to our young people. The program is divided into three components. First is the S.R.O. Elementary Unit. These S.R.O. deputies serve the public elementary schools in unincorporated Orange County. One of the many responsibilities the S.R.O. has in the elementary school level is instructing the D.A.R.E. program. D.A.R.E. is an acronym for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and is designed to provide 5th grade students with lessons on the necessary life skills concerning drug and alcohol decisions, dealing with peer pressure, bullying issues, and how to be a positive role model within their community. They are also required to instruct the Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program to the 4th grade students, perform D.A.R.E. visitations in grades K through 4 which includes Eddie Eagle, a gun safety program, Stranger Danger, a child safety program, and other presentations. This Unit providess a professional law enforcement image, while maintaining a safe school campus and building a positive rapport with students, teachers and parents. The S.R.O. elementary deputies also provide community relations and crime prevention programs in their schools and throughout Orange County.
The second component is the S.R.O. Middle School Unit. The Middle School S.R.O. Unit is assigned to the public Middle Schools in unicorporated Orange County. This Unit also creates a professional law enforcement image, while maintaining a safe school campus and building a positive rapport with students, school faculty, and parents. In addition to the classroom instruction that is provided to the 6th grade students through the Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program, they provide individual counseling to students and their parents. The full-time presence of law enforcement on the school campus starts in middle school and provides the foundation for future relationships.
The third component is the High School S.R.O. Unit. This unit is assigned to the public Orange County High Schools and 9th grade centers within unicorporated Orange County. The High School S.R.O.s interact with students and faculty to provide a professional relationship within the school and community. S.R.O.s guest lecture on good decision-making skills and law enforcement related topics. These deputies are available for student, parent and faculty conferences. They are very much a part of school life. One of the hardest things to measure is success based on something not happening. By building and maintaining trust and open lines of communication with their students, Orange County Sheriff's S.R.O.s have benefited numerous students. Who really knows how many tragedies have been avoided by their positive influence on our children's lives?
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