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Youth focus groups show mixed views of school resource officers; Project Resolve urges relationship building
Summary
Project Resolve presented focus‑group results from 57 Riverbank students showing younger students generally hold more positive views of law enforcement while older students are more skeptical; the group recommended more relational SRO engagement and cautioned that sample size limits statistical conclusions.
Kate Trumpeter, a community impact coach and facilitator for Project Resolve, presented results from four focus groups involving 57 K–12 students across Riverbank schools.
Trumpeter said the sample was purposive and not statistically representative; she repeatedly noted limitations such as group dynamics and potential peer pressure. Still, the focus groups showed a pattern: elementary students generally used more positive descriptors for police and SROs while middle and high school students reported more neutral or negative language, a trend Project Resolve attributed in part to increasing exposure to social media and online narratives.
When asked to describe their school resource officer (SRO) in three words, many students said 'helpful', 'safe' and 'talk', while others used 'scary', 'intimidating' or 'unknown' — particularly when students lacked regular personal contact with the SRO. Trumpeter said only 3 of 57 students strongly opposed having an SRO; the majority identified safety and security, including fears about school shootings, as reasons they support SRO presence.
Trumpeter recommended strategies focused on building relationships: more frequent and consistent engagement between SROs and students, assigning officers who emphasize mentorship over enforcement when appropriate, and designing outreach that mitigates younger students’ and students of color’s lesser trust. She offered the slides and invited the council and superintendent to consider further, larger surveys if desired.
Councilmembers asked whether Project Resolve plans a larger study; Trumpeter said none was scheduled but she is open to working with the district and council to expand engagement. Riverbank youth‑council members and the superintendent offered to continue peer‑to‑peer discussion and report back to the board.
The presentation closed with council thanks and an offer to collaborate on additional engagement opportunities.
