Stand in the entrance of any school building that has a Westchester County School Resource Officer (SRO) and you will see that officer know the name of every kid who walks into that building.
You will see smiles, you will see high-fives and you will see community. Familiarity builds trust and trust builds safety. That’s exactly why we created and continue to support the SRO program - a model that has proven, time and again, to be one of the most effective ways to keep our schools safe while building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. These are not just officers assigned to a building. They are mentors, role models and trusted adults in the lives of our students. And just as importantly, they want to be there.
So when a Lakeland School Board member claims that “Westchester doesn’t care about SROs for school safety,” it is not only inaccurate - it is frankly offensive to the dedicated professionals who show up every day for our kids.
The reality is this: the SRO program is a partnership. School districts request these officers and, as part of that agreement, assume responsibility for the associated costs, including salary, benefits and health insurance. These are not arbitrary increases; they reflect real, rising costs tied to providing highly trained, fully sworn law enforcement officers, who are supervised by the County Department of Public Safety — not security guards — to protect our children. Since 2020, the County has provided $15.1 million to the Lakeland School District, including $3.4 million in 2025 alone in our voluntary sales tax share back.
And that distinction matters.
Communities across Westchester have consistently made it clear they want real police officers in their schools. These are individuals who are trained to respond to emergencies, de-escalate conflict and build relationships that prevent incidents before they happen. These School Resource Officers also undergo rigorous training through the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, ensuring they are fully prepared to meet the unique needs of a school environment. That level of professionalism and preparedness comes with a cost, but it is an investment in safety that many districts have proudly made.
At a recent Lakeland School Board meeting, the conversation turned toward hiring security personnel as an alternative. That is a choice any district can make. But let’s not confuse that choice with a lack of support from the county. Westchester has never wavered in its commitment to providing SROs. In fact, we have worked closely with municipalities and districts to make these programs successful and sustainable.
Public safety is not a place for political talking points or misinformation. It is a shared responsibility that requires honesty, collaboration and respect. When it comes to protecting our children, there is nothing more important, and nothing we take more seriously.
Ken Jenkins is the Westchester County Executive.
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