Every day, over 60 Southlake police officers go out into the city and make life safer for residents and visitors alike. Whether they are patrolling community events on foot, conducting traffic stops or responding to emergency calls, Southlake police have always demonstrated an unrivaled commitment to the community.
While the majority of the force patrols the city at large, a select few are chosen to protect our most precious population at Carroll ISD’s campuses. These 18 individuals are Southlake’s school resource officers (SROs), and they’re the ones to celebrate for providing a decade of safety at our schools.
D.A.R.E. To Serve
The first partnership between the Southlake Police Department and Carroll ISD was in 1989 when officers visited with elementary school students as part of D.A.R.E., or the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. The partnership came at a good time as new campuses opening in Dawson Middle School and Eubanks Intermediate School increased the need for a stronger police presence.
Data from law enforcement agencies at the time indicated that the majority of school attacks took place at the secondary grade level. So when Southlake police hired its first three school resource officers in 2005, it was decided they would primarily focus on the high school and middle school campuses, with one officer dividing time between Carroll Middle and Dawson Middle Schools.
Then in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in 2012, school safety became an even bigger priority for the district. Soon thereafter, 11 SROs were hired to patrol each campus in Carroll ISD.
“Our schools have remained safe within those 10 years,” SRO Sgt. Blas Hernandez says. “We wanted to make sure an SRO was on every campus when students are present, because they are our focus.”
The number of SROs increased yet again in 2018 after voters approved a $208 million bond package that included funds to hire two more officers at the Carroll High and Senior High campuses. For Sgt. Hernandez, becoming part of an SRO program was an aspiration he had since graduating from high school.
“I was always drawn to teaching, but the teachers that influenced me the most were the ones that had different careers prior to teaching,” Sgt. Hernandez says. “As a police officer, I was intrigued at the prospect of doing both as an SRO. I served as the SRO at the senior high school before being promoted and going back to patrol. When the SRO program added an additional supervisor, I jumped at the opportunity and have been there ever since.”
Leading, Learning And Law Enforcement
The Southlake SRO division bases its approach on the National Association of School Resource Officers, a law enforcement organization that is widely considered to be the global leader in school-based policing. Its model divides an SRO’s responsibilities into three key areas — teaching, counseling and law enforcement.
“We are there to protect our most precious and vulnerable population — our kids,” Sgt. Hernandez says. “But along the way, we are also a mentor for the students and work to prepare them for their next stage in life. That type of relationship at such an early age grows and forms into a strong trust between them and the police.”
The students at Walnut Grove Elementary School certainly trust officer Kim Smith in that same way. Before becoming an SRO, officer Smith retired from the Grapevine Police Department in 2015 after a successful 20-year career in law enforcement. Upon reporting for duty at Walnut Grove, she found police work on campus was much different from what she was used to.
“In my first 20 years, no one was ever really excited to see a police officer show up at their home or work,” officer Smith says. “But at Walnut Grove, I have over 600 young hearts who are always excited to see me or any other members of my team. I feel blessed to see the world through the eyes of a generation who believes in honesty, integrity, kindness and compassion.”
Officer Smith’s shifts start the same way every day with her coordinating traffic during morning drop-offs. Afterward, she finishes conducting perimeter checks around the campus before spending the rest of the day interacting with students and staff in the hallways. On Wednesdays, the Walnut Grove news crew will interview her for their weekly segment “Ask Officer Smith,” where they ask her questions about everything from her everyday work life to “would you rather?"
Sometimes, she’ll even involve students in her daily tasks.
“They share responsibilities at each grade level on how to keep our school safe,” she says. “Some simply give me a report of the day, which can include friends helping one another, to safety measures with them checking the door after they come in from recess. Involving them with the safety and security of our school helps them to build confidence and feel safe, which is often just as important as keeping them safe.”
But being an SRO isn’t just about building relationships with students and staff — it’s also about educating them on how to create a healthier learning environment for everyone. Last spring, the SRO division stepped up its educational initiatives by introducing a new anti-drug curriculum called the Law Enforcement Against Drugs program, or L.E.A.D.
“We needed a standardized curriculum that not only addressed the drug problem but also spent time developing the character of our students,” Sgt. Hernandez says. “We’re always reviewing the most up-to-date research and practices to make sure we have the best training and equipment for our community.”
But their guidance doesn’t stop at class time. Sometimes, they’ll approach students personally for one-on-one conversations ranging from personal accountability to everyday safety.
“Students learn they can go to their SRO for help or guidance on any kind of issue, and they know we will follow through,” Sgt. Hernandez says. “Whether it is opening milk cartons for kindergarteners at lunch, teaching classes about oral hygiene or organizing a Red Ribbon Week carnival, our SROs have servant hearts and are constantly searching for ways to go above and beyond for their schools and community.”
Their interactions with students and staff are usually fun, but an SRO always needs to be on alert in case of an emergency. That’s the situation Dawson Middle School officer Anthony Pate found himself in January 2021 when he had to disarm a potentially violent suspect.
“I was preparing my patrol vehicle for work when I heard a call over the radio about a male subject holding a hatchet... in front of Carroll Middle School,” officer Pate says. “I immediately responded due to the SRO on that campus being off for the day. I located the subject approximately 300 yards away and coordinated with the school about his location. With the help of other patrol officers, we were able to peacefully place the male into custody and de-escalate the situation.”
Sgt. Hernandez points to officer Pate’s response to the emergency as an example of how vigilant all of the officers are and should be.
“Our primary focus is the safety and security of our schools, and we remain committed to doing that effectively,” Sgt. Hernandez says.
For Every Campus
The Southlake SRO program has received much recognition since it expanded to every campus 10 years ago. In 2021, the group won Agency of the Year by the Texas Association of School Resource Officers, while officer Smith was awarded SRO of the Year by the district. Officer Pate was recognized with the National Association of School Resource Officers’ Valor Award for his heroic actions as well.
However, they’ll be the first to tell you that those accolades mean nothing next to the support they receive from the community on a daily basis.
“The support I get from this community is amazing,” officer Pate says. “Talking to students and working with teachers and administrators every day makes my job so fun and rewarding. Being an SRO at Dawson Middle School has brought me closer to the community than ever before. I’m honored to be part of the division and work with some of the best SROs in the state of Texas.”
For officer Smith, 2023 will be a big year as she sees her fourth-graders graduate from Walnut Grove.
“The class of 2032 is very special and monumental to me,” she says. “They were kindergartners when I joined the Southlake Police Department, and now they’ll be moving on to the next grade level. My goal is to be around until 2032 and watch them walk across the stage as a Dragon graduate. This year will be one of continued joy, honor and pride in being their officer.”
New faces aren’t the only things Southlake SROs can come to expect for the new school year. For one thing, the agency received a $156,000 grant from the state’s public safety office for new equipment, including 26 bullet-resistant ballistic shields in the event of an active shooter event. Two new auxiliary officers have been hired to provide support on any campus wherever needed, and the department has even expanded its excellent services by sending its first SRO, officer Gregory Potter, to monitor Florence Elementary School in Keller ISD.
But through all of its new recruits, resources and upgrades, the one thing that will never change for the SROs is their love for Southlake and all of the families, students and teachers who live here.
“To me, being an SRO means being the ultimate protector,” Sgt. Hernandez says. “We will continue to be proactive in our approach to protecting our citizens — especially our children.”