The Strongsville Police Department has assigned a School Resource Officer to Strongsville Middle School.
Officer Michael Mendise began his duties at the middle school March 19, 2018, allowing Officer Chris Koenig, who previously served as SRO at both the middle school and Strongsville High School, to focus exclusively on the high school.
The mission of the SRO program is to promote school safety by building a positive school climate in which everyone feels safe, and students are supported to succeed.
The SRO program also seeks to reduce violent crime committed by and against youth in our community. The SROs will establish a trusting channel of communication with students, parents and teachers while establishing regular feedback opportunities.
The role of the SRO is not to enforce school discipline or punsh students, but to serve as a positive role model to instill good moral standards, good judgment and discretion, and respect for other students and the school community.
The department has been working with Strongsville school administrators for several months on expanding the SRO program. Superintendent Cameron Ryba thanked Chief Mark Gender and Mayor Tom Perciak for supporting the effort.
"We look forward to the positive relationships Officre Mendise will be developing at Strongsville Middle School and the impact he will have at that building," Ryba said.