Tuscaloosa police are planning a new program to help students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – The roles School Resource Officers play in Tuscaloosa City Schools could be changing.

They are police officers who also work in the schools in the city of Tuscaloosa.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department is considering a program that would allow SROs to become more involved with students.

The department wants to start a program called Teams within the Tuscaloosa City School System.

The Teams program, which would be administered by SROs, would be similar to the old DARE program, said Deputy Police Chief Sebo Sanders.

There would be elements dealing with drugs, human trafficking and bullying.

“It’s necessary at the moment. Fighting bullying, simple things, vaping, teaching our kids what to do and what not to do. So I think it’s a good program for the school system,” Sanders said.

He said they would like to begin implementing the program in the fall of 2025.

Trainers will come to Tuscaloosa for a week in January to train SROs in the Teams program.

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