Youth Services Officers FAQ

During the 2021-2022 school year, BSD and city leaders heard from many in the community — including educators, parents/guardians and students — about school safety and the role of SROs. Through the Beaverton Student Advisory Committee and affinity groups, students across the district had prioritized discussions specifically about the SRO program. As community members, we share an interest in keeping students and staff safe. We also acknowledge that there are many different lived experiences and perspectives about what safety means, and there are a wide array of perspectives from our diverse community regarding the appropriate role of SROs. That’s why the district and city embarked on a joint review.

In the fall of 2022, Beaverton Police Chief Stacy Jepson and her senior leadership team conducted a comprehensive organizational review of the police department. As a result of this evaluation, the Beaverton Police Department (BPD) created a Services Division that houses Training, Community Engagement and Youth Services. Under this new structure, Chief Jepson felt it was appropriate to change the School Resource Officer (SRO) program to the Youth Services Officer (YSO) program. Historically, the SROs were assigned to BSD during the school year. During the summer months, these officers would return to patrol and assist the Patrol Division. Under this new Youth Services model, the designated YSOs will work year-round to assist with youth-related services, not always in connection with schools. This new model will focus on a programmatic approach that addresses the needs of all Beaverton youth. The overarching mission of the Youth Services program is to work with youth, parents, teachers and administrators to foster safety in our schools, as well as the entire Beaverton community.

There are currently 12 YSOs in the BSD YSO program — 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 from their own agency.

BSD provides relevant trainings to YSOs including, but not limited to:

• Student Threat Assessment (STAT)

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

• Restraint and Seclusion Laws

• Safety Care - Force Response

• Sexual Incident Response Protocol (SIRP)

• Special  Education 101

• Newcomer and Multilingual Supports

• Restorative Practices

BPD ensures that YSOs are certified in the Basic Youth Services Officer Course before they’re assigned or within one year of assignment. YSOs attend annual training relevant to school-based policing. Trainings include, but are not limited to :

• YSO School (Advanced)

• NASRO YSO Courses

• Neurodivergent training

• Emergency Preparedness Planning - School Vulnerability

• Threat Assessment (mental, emotional, physical)

• Cybercrimes and Related Internet Investigations

• OC Fit/Child Forensic Interviewing Course

• Active Threats

• TRIAD Approach to School-based Policing (teacher, counselor and law enforcement officer)

• Teen Dating Violence

• Student Civil Rights in Schools

• Mental Health/Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

• Laws Governing the Release of Student Information (FERPA)

• Title IX

• Implicit Bias, Equity and Cultural Competency

• Restorative Justice Practices

• De-escalation and Conflict Management

• Positive Behavior Support Systems

• Trauma-informed Care

Training for WCSO and HPD YSOs is similar.

BPD requires a minimum of four years as a police officer to apply to the YSO program. 

WCSO requires a minimum of three years as a police officer to apply to the YSO program.

HPD requires a minimum of three years as a police offer to apply to the YSO program. 

For BPD, interested officers apply to the YSO program. They’re required to submit a letter of interest and resume. Candidates have peer and supervisor reviews. They’re interviewed by a panel consisting of the supervisor of the YSO team, lieutenant in charge of the division and an BSD administrator.

For WCSO, interested officers apply to the YSO program. The selection process includes a letter of interest, peer review, review of evaluations and a panel interview including representation from the school district.

For HPD, interested officers apply to the YSO program. The selection process includes a letter of interest, resume, review of evaluations and personnel files, and a panel interview including representation from the school district.

For BPD, oversight and evaluations are performed by the direct supervisor with input from various BSD administrators.

For WCSO, YSOs are supervised by the YSO lieutenant, sergeant and on occasion, patrol sergeants. Supervisors document performance approximately every 60 days.

For HPD, YSOs work in the Investigations Division, supervised by the Investigations Commander, Lieutenant and the Youth Services Sergeant. Detectives receive annual performance evaluations. Hillsboro Youth Services Detectives track their daily activities through data collection and reporting to their Beaverton School District partners. 

On any given school day, an YSO will (not inclusive):

• Monitor the school radio for situations in the school.

• Monitor the police radio and respond to serious calls anywhere in the city.

• Answer questions from students, staff and parents.

• Take 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.

• Provide classroom instruction on relevant topics.

• Patrol the school campus to make sure students and staff are safe.

• Attend safety meetings.

No. Student discipline is not under the purview of YSOs.

No. YSOs do not respond to mental health crises unless requested by school administrators, or if the person is a danger to themselves or others.

Code 3: Assault

Code 5: Bullying/Harassment/Hazing

Code 8: Dangerous Drugs, Distributing or Sharing, Selling

Code 24: Sexual Harassment - In cases of sexual assault

Code 33: Weapons: Other than Firearms, Knives and Explosive Devices

Code 34: Weapons: Firearms

Code 36: Weapons: Knives and Look-Alike Knives

Code 37: Weapons: Look-Alike Explosive Devices, Firearms or Other Dangerous Deadly Weapons

Code 38: Weapons: Others

For more details, consult the BSD Student Code of Conduct.

Code 2: Alcohol

Code 8: Dangerous Drugs

Use, Possession and/or Intent to Possess, Under the Influence

Code 14: Fire Setting/Attempted Fire Setting/Fire Play
*Changed to involvement by the Fire Marshall

Code 23: Secret Societies/Gangs

Code 24: Sexual Harassment

• Physical touching or graffiti of a sexual nature
• Displaying or distributing of sexually explicit drawings, pictures, photos and written 
• messages
• Sexual gestures, obscene jokes or sexual teasing
• Touching oneself sexually in front of others
• Spreading rumors about or rating other students
• Making allegations regarding sexual orientation as to appearance, sexual activity or 
• performance
• Deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, pinching or attempting to remove the 
• clothing of another student
• Pressuring another student for dates or sexual favors

Code 27: Theft

Code 32: Vandalism

For more details, consult the BSD Student Code of Conduct.

Complaints should be directed to the YSO’s supervising agency. If there is a service complaint, the supervisor will contact the person making the complaint. Minor, sustained service complaints may result in field-course corrections and/or verbal or written counseling. Complaints of misconduct or gross misconduct are forwarded to the Professional Standards Division for investigation. Findings are made at the command level. Sustained complaints will result in progressive discipline to include written warning, written reprimand, suspension or termination. Employees are granted due process and any economic discipline must be supported by just cause standards. Depending on the seriousness of the allegation, conflict of interest or other circumstances, investigations may be conducted by outside agencies and may include review by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for matters subject to Brady disclosure (1963 U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland).