What is a School Resource Officer?

School Resource Officers (SRO) are law enforcement officers, with sworn authority, who are employees of the Post Falls Police Department assigned to the Detective Division and are permanently assigned to service schools in the City of Post Falls.  They work in collaboration with educators, students, parents, and the community to reduce crime, drug abuse, violence, with an overall goal of providing a safe school environment.

School Resource Officers attain speciality certification through Idaho P.O.S.T. following 40 hours of additional law enforcement training.  The SRO is specifically trained to perform three roles:  law enforcement officer, law-related counselor, and law-related education teacher.

The Post Falls Police Department is a member of the regional SRO association.

Which Schools are Officers Assigned to?

The Police Department has two active School Resource Officers.  Their specific hours are listed below.

Officer Neil Uhrig - Photo Courtesy of PFHS Yearbook

Officer Neil Uhrig

Post Falls High School

Hours:                 7a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday

Contact Information:

School Line:       208-773-5672

Email:                nuhrig@postfallspolice.com

Office Location:  Post Falls High School

                             2832 E Poleline Ave., Post Falls, ID

 

 

Officer JD Putnam

Officer JD Putnam

District 273 – All Middle & Elementary Schools

Hours:                 7a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday

Contact Information:

Office Line:         208-777-7106

Email:                 jputnam@postfallspolice.com

Office Location:  Post Falls Police Department

                             1717 E Polston., Post Falls, ID

For more information regarding our SRO program, please contact Captain Greg McLean 208 773-3517.

How do School Resource Officers Provide a Safe School Environment?

• Patrol school grounds, respond to calls for service at our schools and/or in the area, and participate in juvenile enforcement missions to prevent juvenile delinquency.
• Provide guidance on ethical issues in a classroom setting or informal settings.
• Provide individual counseling and mentoring to students.
• Give classroom presentations on the work of the SRO, the criminal justice system, and other related topics that help build an understanding of law enforcement’s role in the community.
• Participate in school-related events.

Investigation of Juvenile Crimes

SROs serve as Juvenile Crimes Detectives for the City of Post Falls, Post Falls Police Department.  They specifically investigate cases involving crimes committed by children.  SROs are encouraged to think outside the box when it comes to resolving juvenile criminal actions.  This sometimes includes filing criminal charges.  The process that is followed is the “Balanced Approach” model and it works very well at helping juveniles learn from their crimes while ensuring justice for victims.  We are always prepared to answer any questions you may have and encourage our community to utilize our SROs when dealing with juveniles.

Investigating Child Abuse

Our SROs serve on the front line combatting child abuse in our community.  They have received advanced training in the investigation of child abuse and both of our SROs are certified Forensic Interviewers.  We work closely with our partners in the school district and at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to protect children.

To report child abuse, please contact the Police Department at (208)773-3517 24 hours a day or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare at (855)552-5437.  Dial 911 in a child abuse emergency.