The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) administers the School Safety Program (SSP) and Stronger Connections Grant (SCG), both of which allow for the placement of sworn police officers in Arizona schools. While these grants for School Resource Officers (SROs), who are police officers serving full time within schools, and School Safety Officers (SSOs), who have been awarded to Local Education Agencies (LEA) throughout the state, police and sheriff departments have been unable to meet the demand for these sworn positions. The ADE is seeking to enter into contracts with off-duty law enforcement companies to provide SRO and SSO services to LEAs within the State of Arizona who have been awarded SSP grants for an SRO (eligible LEA).
