School Resource Officers (SROs)
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It is the Clarkstown Central School District’s belief that children are our community’s most valuable asset, and creating a safe environment for our students to learn and our staff to educate is our top priority.
School is an extension of the community we live in. School Resource Officers (SROs) are members of our school community who are active, fully-equipped, certified law enforcement officers from the Clarkstown Police Department. They work in partnership with school administrators and staff to assist with the development of procedures designed to provide a safe, positive and productive learning environment.
SROs receive specialized training specifically designed for law enforcement officers working in an educational environment and with school administrators. More information on the National Association of School Resource Officer Training (NASRO) can be viewed by clicking here.
It is the role of SROs to protect students and staff and contribute to the safety and security of the school environment. They are also in a unique position to provide guidance and serve as positive role models or someone to turn to in time of need while supporting the educational mission of the CCSD.
The 2021-22 agreement between the CCSD and The Clarkstown Police Department for the School Resource Officer Program can be found on BoardDocs or by clicking here.
Meet the CCSD School Resource Officers
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Officer Gould - FFMS
Officer Aaron Gould joined the Clarkstown Police Department in 2013 and in January 2020 completed the School Resource Officer certification course. In the Fall of 2020 he completed the Rockland County Police and Public Safety Academy Instructor Development Course. Since receiving his certification as an SRO, Officer Gould has had the opportunity to fill in at all the schools in the Clarkstown School District. In January of 2022 Officer Gould was selected to be an SRO at Felix Festa Middle School.Officer Gould has been a volunteer firefighter for over 26 years and coaches youth lacrosse in the area.
Officer Gould is a graduate of Nyack High School, SUNY Geneseo, and New England School of Law.
Email: agould@ccsd.edu -
Officer Cunane - FFMS
Officer Will Cunnane has been a police officer with the Clarkstown Police Department since 2013. The first seven years he served patrolling in the New City, Congers, Valley Cottage, and Central Nyack areas.
In March of 2019 he began substituting at the Felix Festa Middle School as one of the two SROs, eventually being selected to the full time SRO position in January 2021.
Email: wcunnane@ccsd.edu -
Officer Vejnoska- North
Officer Jay Vejnoska has been a police officer since 1998, spending his first seven years in the NYPD and joining the Clarkstown Police Department in 2005.
Officer Vejnoska has been an SRO at Clarkstown North High School since 2018, obtaining his Advanced SRO Certificate in 2021. In addition to his work at CNHS, he is also a field training officer and a Youth Academy instructor.
Email: jvejnoska@ccsd.edu -
Officer Benzinger - North
Officer Mike Benzinger has been in law enforcement since 1997. Starting his career in the NYPD with the South Bronx 44 precinct and Yankee Stadium Detail, Officer Benzinger joined the Clarkstown Police Department in 2005, where he is currently assigned as an SRO at Clarkstown North High School. In addition to being an SRO, Officer Benzinger is an instructor with the Clarkstown Police Youth Academy.
Email: mbenzinger@ccsd.edu -
Officer Caivano - South
Officer Joe Caivano has been a police officer since 1994 and has been an SRO at Clarkstown High School South since 2018, receiving his Advanced SRO Certificate in 2021.
In addition to being an SRO, Officer Caivano is an instructor with both the department's Youth Academy and their EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course) Team. He is also member of the Clarkstown Police Department Bike Unit.
Email: jcaivano@ccsd.edu -
Officer Hodges - South
Officer Timothy Hodges has been a Police Officer for 37 years, having started his career with the New York City Housing Police Department.
For the last 34 years he has worked for the Clarkstown Police Department and has been at his present assignment of School Resource Officer at Clarkstown South High School for the past 8 years. Prior to that, he spent 8 years assigned to the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force. Officer Hodges is an instructor with the department’s Youth Police Academy as well as the Project Life Saver Unit. He is a First Aid and CPR Instructor with the department and has previously taught at the Rockland County Police Academy. Officer Hodges has also worked as a department radio dispatcher and Field Training Officer. In addition to being an SRO, he enjoys his current assignment as Bike Patrol Officer for special events.
Email: thodges@ccsd.edu
Are SROs and D.A.R.E. Officers the same?
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No, they’re not. While School Resource Officers fill the invaluable role of protecting our schools, our Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officers educate our 5th grade students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as bullying and other safety topics appropriate for elementary age students. Both are extremely important to our school community and the well being of our students, and both are Clarkstown Police Department Officers, but the two roles serve different purposes within our schools.
Our two D.A.R.E. Officers, Kathleen Gavin (right) and John Mullins (above) work with all nine of our elementary schools and the Birchwood School to provide top quality preventative education to our oldest elementary students as they move into their middle school years.
What are the duties of an SRO?
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Following is a list of some of the ways SROs help our school community:
- Immediate Emergency Response
- Physical Presence for Safety and Emergencies
- Assist Administrators with specific student issues as appropriate and within legal guidelines
- Presence in larger gatherings such as lunch and recess where they can also develop relationships with students
- Traffic Control AM/PM and Large Events
- Consult and participate in Safety Drills and Safety Audits
- Table Top Drills to Simulate Emergency and Response
- Dog sweeps of school buildings before breaks and Regents exams
- Parking Safety Courses
- Presentations in Partnership with Principals
- Guest Speaker on specific topics in relevant classes such as Participation In Government
- Promote community-based activities such as Youth Court, Youth Academy or the Explorer Program
- Intern opportunities for WISE students in 12th grade
Please click here for more details on the duties of SRO's.