Thanks to an Ongoing Partnership with the Surprise Police Department, Arizona Charter Academy Now Has a Full Time School Resource Officer on Campus

Every morning, as students fill the halls of Arizona Charter Academy (ACA) in Surprise, Officer Nick Wylie from the Surprise Police Department is there too, greeting students and staff.

Thanks to an ongoing positive relationship between ACA and the Surprise Police Department, the school now has Officer Wylie on campus as a full time School Resource Officer (SRO).

“Through the Surprise Police Department’s continued involvement at our school, we saw the great benefit of having a SRO on campus to engage with students in a positive experience,” said Gloria Ramos, Director of Operations at ACA.

As Officer Wylie notes, he has three primary roles as an SRO: law enforcement officer, public safety educator and an informal counselor and mentor.

“As a law enforcement officer, my responsibility is to ensure the school campus remains a safe and secure environment for all. Having an SRO on campus provides a significant benefit by fostering a greater sense of safety and security among both students and staff.  ” Wylie said, adding that in his role as a public safety educator, he provides students, staff and parents with valuable knowledge about the law and how it applies to their daily lives.

Through his role as an informal counselor and mentor, Officer Wylie said he is able to build meaningful relationships with students, parents and faculty, all while making it clear that he is always available for support and guidance.

“Of these roles, I find the informal counselor/mentor aspect to be the most rewarding and impactful part of the job,” he said.

“For students in particular, the presence of an SRO offers a trusted adult they can turn to—someone who supports them and is readily available to listen and provide guidance.”

Ramos said it didn’t take long for Officer Wylie to start having positive interactions with the students.

“He is present during student lunches, arrival and assemblies. He knows so many students by name now and they seek him out to high five them,” she said.

“On the other hand, parents feel safe when dropping of their students knowing that there’s a law enforcement officer on campus.”

For Principal Jordan Beckman, Officer Wylie’s presence at ACA is also an effective way to see police officers in a very positive light.

“Having an SRO on campus is providing a great benefit in building community relationships with our school population and the City of Surprise Police Department,” Beckman said.

“Often students and families only see police officers as responding to a crime. Now, our students will see police officers as allies and someone who wants to prevent issues.”

Officer Wylie said he is genuinely excited about the partnership between the Surprise Police Department and ACA and his role of SRO.