Lincoln Police and Lincoln Public Schools release annual resource officer program report

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - School resource officers are stationed in high schools and middle schools throughout the Lincoln Public School District, playing a key role in maintaining safety and security on campus.

According to a new report released jointly by Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) and the Lincoln Police Department (LPD), students say having officers present in schools helps them feel safer. The report shows that across both middle and high schools, calls for service — where officers are summoned to a school — have decreased compared to last year.

The total number of referrals, which occur when there is probable cause that a juvenile has committed a crime and the case is referred to the county attorney, dropped by 54% compared to the four-year average.

"This is indicative of the efficacy of the behavioral framework of the Lincoln Public Schools and the excellent instruction and supportive measures provided by our teachers," said Dr. John Skretta, LPS assistant superintendent.

The report also addressed school discipline, an area in which school resource officers do not intervene. Data revealed that students who identify as male, Black, Hispanic, or of mixed race are disproportionately represented in both out-of-school and in-school suspensions.

The full report can be viewed below.