School Resource Officer
I am very pleased to be a part of a great school family at Park Hill South High School. My career began with the St. Joseph (MO) Police Department in 1996.
In 1998, I continued with the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. In 2007, I switched gears and became a Police Officer with the Riverside Police Department.
I’ve been at Park Hill South High School serving as an SRO since 2007. Working with the students and teachers has been truly rewarding for me. I am very fortunate to be a part of a great community of teachers, staff and students.
Credentials:
- Associates Degree—Grantham University
- P.O.S.T. Certification—Missouri Western State University
- Basic & Advanced SRO Certification
- Active Shooter/Armed Intruder Instructor
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer
ABOUT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PARTNERSHIP
There are over 10,000 sworn police officers serving in schools nationwide. The primary goal of the School Resource Officer is to promote a safe-school environment for learning.
The key component of the partnership between Park Hill South High School and the Riverside Police Department is to “close the gap” between law enforcement officers and young people.
This is done by increasing positive attitudes towards law enforcement; teach the value of our legal system; promote respect for people and property and reduce juvenile delinquency by helping students formulate an awareness of rules, authority, and justice.
The School Resource Officer can spend more time interacting students and teachers during the school day resulting in increased rapport and student-initiated contacts. This is done in the following ways.
Law Education: I maintain a list of lessons detailing a variety of law education topics for teachers and students. Law education focuses on coaching student about laws pertaining to Alcohol and Drug Awareness; Constitutional Law; Traffic and Municipal Law; Domestic Violence, Crime Prevention/Reporting in Schools and much more.
Law Counseling: I work closely with PHS Counseling Staff and the Social Worker in order to provide appropriate levels of support and information to students and parents by counseling them on a variety of issues, such as violence; anger management; personal conflicts; harassment; bullying; drug and alcohol issues; abuse and/or neglect.
School Policing: Police referrals made to the School Resource Officer allows for easier follow-up investigation, thus netting higher solvability. Other duties include conducting investigations and interviews; works with surrounding law enforcement agencies; liaison between the school, community and local law enforcement; provides expertise in safety planning; and serves as a resource for information and services to students, parents and school personnel.
Contact
Officer Matt Westrich
816-359-4120
Safety Resources
P3 Tips (PDF)
Be Safe Sprigeo
Missouri School Violence Hotline