School Resource Officer

The primary function of the School Resource Officer at Southington High School is to protect and provide valuable resources to school staff while fostering positive relationships with our youth. The School Resource Officers Program was developed in order to better deal with a wide range of public concerns, which include violence in schools, drug and alcohol abuse, and any problems that affect the school’s quality of life.

The School Resource Officers are resources for their schools. They are trained to fulfill three primary roles. First and foremost they are Law Enforcement Officers, whose main purpose is to keep the peace in their schools and enforce the laws. Second, they are mentors who provide guidance and information to students, their families, and school staff. Finally, they are law related “teachers”, who can provide the schools with additional resources by sharing their expertise in the classroom.

Currently Officer Valentine is the School Resource Officer covering Southington High School. Officer Butler, who is currently the Crime Prevention and Community Relations Officer, was previously a School Resource Officer at the Southington High School. Officer Butler, who has retained his certification as a School Resource Officer, helps support the two (2) Middle Schools, nine (9) Elementary Schools, (8 public and 1 parochial), and the Alternative High School (ALTA) during his day to day activities.

The Southington High School Resource Officer Program was started at Southington High School at the beginning of the 1998-1999 school year. The first School Resource Officer was Officer Gerry Triano.

Since that time, eleven (11) other Officers have taken on the role as High School School Resource Officer; Officer Joseph Policki (Retired); Officer Thomas Petro (Retired); Officer Lauren Barse, Officer (now Master Sergeant) Jason Plourde; Officer Anthony Cannatelli ( Retired); Officer William Santarserio (Retired); Officer (now Sergeant) Nathan Boislard; Officer (now Sergeant) Donald MacKenzie; Officer Chad Butler; Officer Kevin Naranjo and the current School Resource Officer is Officer James Valentine.