Law Enforcement Youth Advisory Councils and School Safety

First Presenter's Institution

Savannah-Chatham Board of Education Police Department

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Captain Rob Rodriguez began his law enforcement career with the Georgia Department of Corrections in January of 1994 as a Corrections Officer assigned to Lee State Prison. After a short stent with the Department of Corrections, Captain Rodriguez transitioned to law enforcement at the community level. Captain Rodriguez joined the Pelham Police Department (Georgia) and created the department’s School Resource Officer Program at Pelham High School after completing the initial SRO School offered in the state of Georgia. Prior to joining the Savannah-Chatham Board of Education Police Department, Captain Rodriguez was the Chief of Police for the Cordele Police Department. Captain Rodriguez served as the Chief Executive Officer for the agency, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department, community engagement, fiscal management of a multi-million-dollar budget, and all departmental personnel. In addition to being the Chief of Police, Captain Rodriguez has also served in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Police, Patrol Division Commander, Accreditation/Certification Manager, Departmental Training Officer, Criminal Investigations Division Commander, Patrol Supervisor, Motor Vehicle Crash Investigator, Risk Management Investigator, Field Training Officer Program Coordinator, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Sex Crimes & Homicide Detective, Senior Patrol Officer, and Patrol Officer. One of Captain Rodriguez’s professional passions is training and education. Captain Rodriguez is a Senior Instructor, General Instructor, Departmental Training Officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Health & Wellness Instructor, Taser Instructor, and Crisis Intervention Team Instructor. Captain Rodriguez has taught hundreds of professional law enforcement officers throughout the state and has served as an Adjunct Instructor for the Basic Instructor/Trainer Course located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia Captain Rodriguez is a military veteran and shortly after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Captain Rodriguez was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Navy, and reported to NWS Charleston, in Charleston, SC. where he was assigned to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). While attached to NCIS, Captain Rodriguez’s experience was utilized to conduct sexual assault investigations at NWS Charleston. Captain Rodriguez holds an Associate of Science degree from Thomas University, a Bachelor of Science from Wilmington University, he has completed Command College earning a Master of Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University, and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Police and Administration from Walden University. In addition, Captain Rodriguez serves as an Adjunct Professor at Albany State University in the Criminal Justice Department and is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity where he serves as an Assistant District Officer. Captain Rodriguez is a graduate of the 273rd Session of the FBI National Academy. Captain Rodriguez is married to the former Melanie Anne Stephens, who is also a POST Certified Peace Officer,

Document Type

Event

Primary Strand

School Safety

Relevance to Primary Strand

My proposal possess a direct nexus to school safety as it focuses on students, their safety concerns and issues as well as how they can play role improving the learning environment.

Alignment with School Improvement Plan Topics

School Safety

Brief Program Description

This presentation focuses on the community of students that negotiate the halls of academia, specifically those in the middle and high schools, yet may not have a legitimate platform to seek redress for the concerns and challenges that students face. I would submit that school board or municipal police departments create a Youth Advisory Council to the Office of the Chief of Police. These Youth Advisory Councils would consist of students from both middle and high school and regularly meet with the Chief of Police. Students would have the opportunity to meet with the Chief to discuss real-world issues/challenges related to their safety and education as well as participate in drafting viable solutions that impact their education and well-being.

Summary

School safety is shared responsibility, this includes our students; however, we must provide them a platform to actively engage in their responsibility. Establishing Youth Advisory Councils not only creates the avenue for engagement but also identifies the real-world issues facing our students today.

Evidence

Initially, there are multiple articles enumerating empirical data that identify the unique challenges that our students face each day in the realm of safety both in an out of the classroom. Additionally, having witnessed an Advisory Council function in a real-world setting at the adult level, provided data that this method is effective in addressing issues or concerns presented.

Learning Objective 1

Foster an environment that eliminates perceived barriers between law enforcement and students that open the lines of communication between both demographics.

Learning Objective 2

Identify the real-world safety concerns of our students while creating collaborative solutions.

Learning Objective 3

Generate a sense of ownership that encourages civic responsibility through proactive measures.

Learning Objective 4

Create an environment that promotes safe learning and educational development.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Law Enforcement Youth Advisory Councils and School Safety

School safety is shared responsibility, this includes our students; however, we must provide them a platform to actively engage in their responsibility. Establishing Youth Advisory Councils not only creates the avenue for engagement but also identifies the real-world issues facing our students today.