Durham County Sheriff, DPS sign renewed SRO MOU as deputies report falling referrals and more resource links

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education on June 26 approved a memorandum of understanding with the Durham County Sheriff—s Office to continue the district—s School Resource Officer program.

The MOU was approved unanimously after a 30-minute presentation and discussion with Sheriff Birkhead and SRO staff, who described training, referral outcomes and the program—s emphasis on avoiding criminalization of student behavior. "We—re not there to criminalize behavior," Sheriff Birkhead said, adding that deputies rely on schools— administrators and counselors for disciplinary decisions.

The agreement continues SRO coverage at five high schools, nine middle schools and two specialty schools. Sheriff Birkhead told the board his office has a staffing allocation of 26 full-time SRO positions and was working to fill about a dozen vacancies. He and SRO supervisors described state-required 40-hour SRO training and additional local refresher and joint training with DPS that covers de-escalation, juvenile mental health, cultural competency and restorative practices.

Deputy Moore, a SRO at Shepherd Middle School, described outreach and relationship-building in schools: "They don—t see us no more as the bad guys, but the good guys," he said, giving examples of classroom visits and mentoring.

Sheriff Birkhead and his team also highlighted program data for the 2024-25 school year: 621 calls for service, 613 referrals to school administration, 663 referrals to community resources, 50 juvenile petitions and four arrests. They said the district has one of the highest referral rates in North Carolina for redirecting students to supportive programs rather than to the criminal system.

Board members pressed for clarity about SRO roles and training. Sergeant Boudreaux said SROs do not enforce routine school rules; they intervene when statutes are violated or where safety is immediately threatened. The sheriff described existing partnerships with mental-health responders (the district—s "Heart" program) and community providers for diversion and support services.

The board voted 6-0 to approve the MOU; the sheriff—s team will sign the agreement and return to the board for annual updates on implementation.

Board members also asked staff to explore ways to make SROs feel less intimidating to students (for example, school-specific vehicle markings, more informal attire at some school events and increased classroom presence). The sheriff said the office is open to adjustments while noting deputies remain law-enforcement officers and carry equipment for safety.

The presentation and vote were followed by board and public discussion about SRO engagement with students outside school and protocols if federal immigration agents appear in the community; Sheriff Birkhead said protocols are in place to protect students and families and that his office conducts community outreach on rights and resources.

The MOU adoption requires ongoing reporting back to the board, and the sheriff and DPS officials said they will continue joint training and monitoring of referral and arrest metrics.