Youth Services Officers
The Youth Services Officer (formerly School Resource Officer) program currently includes 12 Youth Services Officers (YSOs) — seven from the Beaverton Police Department (BPD), four from the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) and one from the Hillsboro Police Department (HPD). Each is supervised by a sergeant in their own agency.
Role of Youth Services Officers
General practices and functions of YSOs include, but are not limited to:
- Monitoring the school radio for situations in the school.
- Monitoring the police radio and responding to serious calls anywhere in the city.
- Answering questions from students, staff and parents/guardians.
- Taking reports regarding child abuse, theft, harassment, drugs/alcohol, trespassing, weapons possession, sex trafficking/prostitution, hit-and-run collisions, suspicious persons and threats, either in person or via social media.
- Providing classroom instruction on relevant topics.
- Patrolling the school campus to make sure students and staff are safe.
- Attending safety meetings.
Student discipline is not under the purview of YSOs. You can learn more about the district philosophy on this matter in the Student Code of Conduct.
Visit our YSO Frequently Asked Questions webpage for more information.
Youth Services Officers
Program History
The Youth Services Officer (formerly School Resource Officer) program has been a part of the Beaverton School District since the mid-1990s. It has evolved from teaching bicycle and general safety to the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) to the current program. In the late 1990s, the role of the SRO changed dramatically in response to school shootings, highlighting a need to focus on school safety.
During the 2021-2022 school year, in response to feedback from community members about school safety and the role of SROs, district and city leaders undertook a review of the SRO program. You can read more about that review in the SeeChange SRO Report.
Following the SeeChange report and recommendations, the District developed action steps to implement changes in schools and in our continued partnership with local law enforcement. You can read more about these action steps in the Program Review Response Report.