The school resource officer (SRO) is defined in Code of Virginia § 9.1-101 of the Virginia Code as “a certified law enforcement officer hired by the local law enforcement agency to provide law enforcement and security services to Virginia public elementary and secondary schools.” However, law enforcement officers are not school disciplinarians. Their role in PWCS is to promote positive and supportive school climates and to create and maintain safe and secure school environments by focusing on incidents that may involve a violation of criminal law, while school administrators focus on whether student conduct violates the provisions of the COB.
School administration is required by Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.3:1 to report certain potential criminal offenses to local law enforcement.