Portage Department of Public Safety Officers in Schools
The Portage Department of Public Safety has two police officers assigned to serve Portage Public Schools. The School Resource Officers (SRO) play a diverse role in the schools and the community and have many duties and responsibilities.
The SRO position is a full-time, sworn police officer selected to serve a 36-month special assignment. SRO’s assist the school administration in maintaining a safe environment, enforcing school policies and student codes of conduct. The officers work to build relationships with school staff, as well as students and parents. They also act as a resource to other officers for issues with students and their families which may occur outside of school.
An SRO’s sworn duty to enforce the law does not contradict the need for the SRO to be a positive role model, but rather supports it. It is essential for SRO’s to endorse high moral standards and use good judgment and discretion. Through this, students learn and understand what a professional police officer does.
SRO’s are generally assigned to the high schools and are responsible for investigating criminal law violations and, in certain cases, making arrests or referrals. SRO’s provide a highly-visible presence in the school community. They attend sporting events, provide classroom instruction on a wide range of law enforcement topics, and attend parent meetings, staff meetings, school board meetings, and many other related school functions.
The two School Resource Officers for the 2021-2022 school year are Officer Brannon Pierman and Officer Henry Kite.
SRO Pierman is assigned to Portage Northern High School. He also serves at the Portage Community Education Center, North Middle School, Amberly Elementary, Haverhill Elementary, 12th Street Elementary, and Angling Road Elementary.
SRO Kite is assigned to Portage Central High School. He also serves Central Middle School, West Middle School, Central Elementary, Lake Center Elementary, Moorsbridge Elementary, and Woodland Elementary.