On Monday, June 25, 2018, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered remarks during the opening ceremony at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Annual Conference. The conference, held in Reno, Nevada, provided over one thousand school resource officers (SROs), school personnel, and law enforcement executives the opportunity to network, meet national and international experts, and attend meetings and training.

Among his remarks during the opening ceremony, Attorney General Sessions expressed his gratitude to SROs nationwide. “Thank you for committing your lives to this difficult, but noble work of protecting the most innocent and most vulnerable among us – the children of this country,” he said. Additionally, he announced the 2018 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), which will award up to $25 million for school safety measures such as training for local law enforcement to prevent school violence; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and hardware for use as deterrent measures.

In addition to the SVPP funding, the Attorney General also discussed other funding and technical assistance opportunities to support local, state and tribal law enforcement.

“These grants will serve both safety and peace of mind… We made these grants because we listened to you,” Attorney General Sessions stated. “We at the Department of Justice are investing in [law enforcement] in many ways and in particular by providing funding for cities and states to hire school resource officers... and offering firearms training to you as you requested.”

After his remarks, Attorney General Sessions and NASRO Executive Director Mo Canady presented two distinguished awards. The first award – the Floyd Ledbetter National School Resource Officer of the Year Award – was presented to Officer Marvin Tevaga of Maui Police Department. The second – the NASRO National Valor Award – was presented to Deputy Jimmy Long of Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Blaine Gaskill of St. Mary’s County (Maryland) Sheriff’s Office.

COPS Office Director Phil Keith also attended the NASRO Annual Conference to support the work of NASRO, a COPS Office partner in training SROs and law enforcement personnel on school-based policing and campus safety.  Director Keith commended SROs and law enforcement personnel working to secure the safety of children across the country. While at the conference in Reno Nevada, Director Keith also met with local law enforcement executives, school administrators, and government representatives to discuss community policing work in Washoe County and the State of Nevada.

To learn more about the 2018 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) or to apply for funding, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=2958. The SVPP application deadline is July 30, 2018 at 7:59pm ET.

Elizabeth Simpson
COPS Office

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