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Agreement Between
The
Connecticut State Police/Colchester Resident State Troopers’ Office
And the
Colchester Board of Education
Governing
The Colchester School Resource Officer Program
This agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into this ____ day of _________, 2021, by
and between the Connecticut State Police/Colchester Resident State Troopers’ Office
(“CRSTO”) and the Colchester Board of Education (the “Board”) .
I. Introduction
The CRSTO provides vital supports to the Colchester Public Schools (“CPS”) in a variety of
ways, including the School Resource Officer (“SRO”) program and various safety and
educational programs. The CRSTO and Board enter into this Agreement to memorialize the
policies and procedures governing interactions between and joint programs of the CRSTO and
CPS.
II. SRO Program
The SRO Program involves the placement of law enforcement officers within the CPS. The
SROs are CPS officers assigned by the Connecticut State Police to serve as liaisons between
CPS and CRSTO and to support the CPS school administration and staff at particular schools
in maintaining a safe and positive school environment.
The SROs are visible and active law enforcement figures at the schools to which they are
assigned. The SROs may be a resource for instruction in the following areas: law related
education, violence diffusion, safety programs, alcohol and drug prevention, crime prevention
and other pertinent subjects.
A. Goals and Objectives of SRO Program
● Establish a positive working relationship between the CRSTO, CPS and the
community in a cooperative effort to prevent juvenile delinquency and assist in
positive student development;
● Maintain a safe and secure learning environment on school campuses;
● Promote positive attitudes regarding the role of police officers in today’s society;
and
● Strive to ensure a consistent response to incidents of student misbehavior, clarify
the role of law enforcement in school disciplinary matters, and reduce involvement
of police and court agencies for misconduct at school and school-related activities.
● Specific expectations of the role are established in Exhibit A, “Colchester School
Resource Officer Responsibilities/Expectations”.
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B. Appointment and Supervision of School Resource Officers
A joint committee composed of two (2) representatives appointed by the CRSTO and two
(2) representatives appointed by the Colchester Superintendent of Schools
(“Superintendent”) shall annually make recommendations for the SRO position(s) to the
CRSTO. The CRSTO shall have the final authority to appoint the SROs from the list of
individuals recommended.
The CRSTO agrees to provide an SRO to Bacon Academy within the CPS, with ancillary
expectations for all CPS schools as described in Exhibit A.
The CRSTO, in conjunction with the Superintendent, will determine which CRST Officers
will assume the roles and responsibilities of an SRO. If the Superintendent is dissatisfied
with an SRO who has been assigned to a school, the Superintendent will request that the
CRSTO assign a different officer as the SRO for that school.
It is the responsibility of the SROs to notify a building based administrator of the school at
which they work of their work schedule.
SROs shall remain employees of the CRSTO and shall not be employees of the CPS. The
CPS shall bear the costs of the SRO program.
The parties acknowledge that, while acting as an SRO on law enforcement matters, SROs
will follow CRSTO policies and procedures. The SROs will remain subject to the
administration, supervision and control of the CRSTO. However, while acting in the
capacity of an SRO with respect to educational responsibilities, the SROs shall take
direction from CPS school administration.
The Superintendent shall meet annually with each building based SRO and a representative
of the CRSTO to discuss the job performance of the SRO. The Superintendent shall then
submit a written report to the CRSTO on the performance of the SRO assigned to a specific
school building.
C. Schedules for School Resource Officers
The CRSTO will assign the SROs’ work days and shifts annually, with such schedules
subject to the approval of the Superintendent.
The SROs shall be available for flexible scheduling to reasonably accommodate designated
after school and evening school activities whenever possible as requested by school
administrators. If such attendance requires overtime, overtime is subject to the approval of
the SROs’ CRSTO supervisor.
D. Duties and Responsibilities of the School Resource Officers
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● The SRO will work collaboratively with the Superintendent and administrators to
determine the goals and priorities for the SRO program at a particular school and
the parameters for SRO involvement in school disciplinary matters, consistent with
the terms of Exhibit A.
● The SRO will bring to the attention of building based administrators proposed plans
and strategies to prevent and/or minimize dangerous situations on or near the school
campus or at school activities, and will assist in the development of such plans as
requested by building based administrators and/or the Superintendent.
● The SRO shall maintain such CRSTO records as required by the CRSTO and
maintain such CPS records as requested by the Superintendent for use in evaluating
and reviewing the SRO program and this Agreement.
● The SRO will abide by all Board Policies and Regulations and any building based
procedures established by the building based administrators and/or the
Superintendent.
● If a conflict develops between a SRO’s legal responsibilities to the CRSTO and the
SRO’s responsibilities to the CPS, the SRO’s legal responsibilities as a sworn police
officers shall take precedence. However, the SRO shall inform the Principal, the
Superintendent and the CRSTO of such conflict. A representative of the CRSTO
and Superintendent will collaborate to resolve such conflicts.
E. Uniform and Equipment of School Resource Officer
SROs will wear their approved CRSTO uniform with appropriate logos and name badges
depending on the type of school activity and program and/or at the request of the
Superintendent or CRSTO. It is understood that the SROs will carry their approved duty
firearm, Taser and other CRSTO issued equipment while on school property and at
school-sponsored events. Such duty firearm, Taser and other CRSTO issued equipment
shall only be used when law enforcement intervention is necessary and then shall only be
used in accordance with the policies and standards of the CRSTO.
Body-worn recording equipment shall only be turned on when interacting with students or
other members of the school community when a SRO is acting in his/her capacity as a law
enforcement officer and in accordance with the policies and standards of the CRSTO and
all state and federal laws, guidance and regulations. Body-worn recording equipment shall
not be turned on by a SRO while acting in the capacity of an SRO with respect to
educational responsibilities or typical interactions with students, staff or other members of
the public in the CPS.
Any recordings generated by the use of body-worn equipment shall abide by all CRSTO
policies and procedures with respect to evidence, juvenile records, and personally
identifiable information.
F. Duties of the CPS with respect to SRO Program
The CPS shall provide to the SROs the following materials and facilities that are deemed
necessary to the performance of the SROs:
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● A desk with drawers, a chair and filing drawers at Bacon Academy.
● Access to a computer terminal.
● Access to inspect and copy public records maintained by the school district to
the extent allowed by law.
● Access to desktop telephone, cell phone and school based radio.
G. Removal of a School Resource Officer
If the Superintendent determines that the SRO is not effectively performing the SRO’s
duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, the Superintendent shall contact the
CRSTO. By joint agreement of the CRSTO and the Superintendent, a meeting shall be
conducted with the SRO to mediate or resolve any problems. The CRSTO may dismiss or
reassign the SRO, in accordance with the CRSTO's rules, regulations and general orders.
The Superintendent may decline the assignment of a SRO to any particular school in the
CPS.
III. Law Enforcement Intervention
● Law enforcement intervention is defined as an intervention managed by a CRSTO
officer, including a SRO, for a law enforcement purpose, taking place on the grounds
of the CPS or at a school sponsored activity.
● CRSTO officers, including SROs, shall only undertake law enforcement intervention on
the grounds of the CPS or at a school sponsored activity when such intervention is
necessary in cases of emergency or to prevent serious disruption or climate that places
students or other individuals in the CPS at risk of immediate harm.
● Law enforcement intervention is not limited to arrest and referral to court. Law
enforcement intervention options may include verbal warning; conference with the
student, parents, teachers and/or others; referral to community agencies; and referral to
court.
● Behaviors warranting law enforcement intervention must be violations of criminal law.
● Except in cases of emergency, CRSTO officers, including SROs, will consult with and
coordinate actions constituting law enforcement intervention with the building based
administrators and/or the Superintendent. In the event law enforcement intervention is
necessary in cases of emergency or to prevent serious disruption or climate that places
students or other individuals at risk of immediate harm, the CRSTO officers, including
SROs, shall notify a building based administrator and the Superintendent about the law
enforcement intervention as soon as the emergency situation is resolved.
IV. Police Activity at Schools
The parties agree that CRSTO officers, including SROs, shall follow certain protocols when on
school grounds in non-emergency circumstances as set forth in this Agreement.
Except in the event of an emergency, as hereinafter defined, CRSTO officers who are not
assigned as SROs to a specific school building are required to follow all CPS building security
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policies and procedures applicable to visitors when entering school grounds. Specifically, a
CRSTO officer who is not assigned as a SRO to a specific school building shall, upon arrival,
utilize security buzzers for access, comply with requests for photo identification, report
directly to and sign in and out at the visitors’ reception area of the school office, prominently
display identification required for visitors to the school buildings and comply with directives of
the Superintendent and school administrators at all times.
A CRSTO officer who is not assigned as a SRO to a specific school building shall request the
express permission of a building based administrator whenever CRSTO activity or visits are
planned for school grounds. Except in cases of emergency, prior to entering school grounds to
conduct an investigation, arrest or search of any individual (e.g. student, parent/guardian, staff
member), CRSTO officers, including SROs, shall obtain express permission from a building
based administrator.
An emergency is defined as:
● A situation that presents potential danger of injury to persons; and/or
● The likelihood of destruction of evidence or other property.
Except in the event of an emergency, CRSTO officers shall conduct all investigations, arrests
or searches off school property. If an arrest on campus is necessary due to the potential danger
of injury to persons and/or the likelihood of destruction of evidence or other property, CRSTO
officers shall coordinate such arrests with the building based administrators to ensure that the
arrest is conducted in a manner that prevents disruption and/or observation by other students
and/or other members of the school community.
V. CRSTO Access to Images from School Cameras
In the event of a criminal investigation, the CRSTO may request access to school district video
images, live or recorded, by making a request for access to the Superintendent. Access may be
granted by the Superintendent or other such certified administrator as designated by the
Superintendent only when determined by the Superintendent to be appropriate under state and
federal law. If access is granted, the CRSTO shall abide by its policies and procedures with
respect to evidence, juvenile records, and personally identifiable information.
The CRSTO may also access school district camera footage live or recorded images if the
Superintendent or school administrator make such a request, when the Superintendent or school
administrator has determined that there is a significant and articulable threat to the health and
safety of students or other individuals.
The Superintendent or designee may disclose video images to the CRSTO, live or recorded,
which include personally identifiable student information, when there is an articulable and
significant threat to the health and safety of a student or other individuals, or when otherwise
appropriate under state and federal law.
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The Superintendent or designee may disclose video images to the CRSTO, live or recorded,
which include video images of school district employees and/or other persons on school,
property, only when determined by the Superintendent or designee to be appropriate under
state and federal law.
VI. Training
The CRSTO and the CPS will each provide their employees with training relative to this
Agreement and its purposes, which includes training regarding any cooperative activities
undertaken between the CRSTO and CPS.
VII. Data Collection
The parties agree that they will provide baseline data for comparison purposes and regularly
collect, share, monitor and report data resulting from the implementation of this Agreement.
Data Collection: On a quarterly basis, the following information will be collected:
CPS—de-identified data on number and types of disciplinary actions, numbers and
demographics of students involved, referrals to police.
CRSTO —de-identified data on number and types of school incidents for which police
incident reports are written involving students, police actions on
incidents/investigations/arrests and/or other interventions taking place on school
property.
VIII. Monitoring and Oversight
The parties agree to maintain regular and open communication to evaluate the effectiveness of
this Agreement and suggest improvement, adjustments, and collaborate on training that may be
necessary to carry out the duties and obligations under this Agreement.
On a regular basis and at the request of either the Board or the CRSTO, representatives will
meet to provide oversight of the Agreement and review relevant data and analysis. The goal of
such meetings shall be to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Agreement and
address questions or concerns as may arise. At least annually, the CRSTO and the CPS will
collaborate to prepare a report of activities and make recommendations for improvements to
the Agreement and/or its implementation. Such report shall be annually presented to the Board
for its consideration prior each annual expiration date of Agreement.
IX. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall be reviewed and its effectiveness evaluated on an annual basis. A
renewal of this Agreement shall be by mutual written agreement of all parties and shall be
executed prior to the expiration date of each agreement. In the event that this Agreement
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expires, the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants and representations contained in
the Agreement shall be of no further force and effect.
It is understood that either the Board or the CRSTO may terminate this contract voluntarily
upon written notice on or before March 1st of any fiscal year.
A request for revisions or modifications to this Agreement may be made by either party in
writing at any time.
This Agreement constitutes a final written expression of all terms of this Agreement and is a
complete and exclusive statement of those terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
respective authorized officers.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of:
____________________________________ ____________________
[title of authorized official] Date
Connecticut State Police/Colchester Resident State Troopers’ Office
____________________________________ _____________________
Chair Date
Colchester Board of Education
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