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Park City panel: school resource officers focused on relationships, not just enforcement
Summary
School and law‑enforcement leaders told residents that school resource officers in Park City prioritize relationship‑building—classroom visits, "fist bumps" and proactive outreach—to keep students safe and preserve in‑person learning during public‑health events.
School leaders and public‑safety officials at a Park City panel emphasized relationship building by school resource officers (SROs) and the role of cross‑agency health partnerships in keeping schools open.
Unidentified Speaker 4, speaking from a school‑district perspective, said SROs are often seen as authoritarian elsewhere but in Park City are "working to build relationships with kids," describing SROs fist‑bumping students, visiting classrooms and acting as positive role models.
Panelists linked those relationships to other community outcomes. Unidentified Speaker 4 credited public‑health and school partnerships with allowing in‑person learning during the COVID pandemic, implementing test protocols and on‑site testing that kept classrooms open. Unidentified Speaker 6 and others described outreach coordinators and bilingual staff in every school who connect families to services and partner with community organizations such as the Peace House.
Why it matters: Panelists said proactive relationship work reduces harm and makes difficult conversations easier when safety incidents occur. Schools also described layered protocols for handling law‑enforcement contacts — requiring administrative involvement or SRO presence before staff escalate enforcement actions.
Panelists urged more visible communication and trust building with families, saying that rebuilding trust and sharing the district’s story are priorities for the coming months. The district credited outreach director Eric Esquivel (identified in the audience) and other staff with strengthening ties to Latino families and students.
Next steps: The district plans to continue outreach efforts and to highlight school programs and supports in community communications.
