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The Fairfield Police Department School Safety Division is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors across Fairfield’s 17 public schools. Established in 2013, the division provides a proactive police presence, emergency response, safety education, and close collaboration with school administrators and the district’s central office.
The division consists of:
- Two School Resource Officers (SROs) assigned full-time to Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde High Schools.
- School Safety Officers (SSOs) who monitor the remaining public schools, ensuring security, safety education, and response to concerns as needed.
- A division supervisor who maintains a strong partnership with the district’s central office and school administrators, serving on safety committees and threat assessment teams while coordinating division-wide safety efforts.
Beyond public schools, the division works closely with private schools, child care centers, and other institutions to provide guidance on security measures, crisis preparedness, emergency response planning, and threat assessment, ensuring that all Fairfield-based educational facilities benefit from proven safety practices.
Daily & Year-Round Responsibilities
The School Safety Division remains active throughout the year, balancing daily school operations with long-term initiatives to enhance preparedness and security across the community.
School-Year Responsibilities:
- Maintain a visible police presence at assigned schools and school-related events.
- Serve as an informational resource for students, staff, and parents on school safety, security protocols, and law enforcement concerns.
- Implement and teach safety curriculum, including S.H.A.P.E. (Safety, Health, and Positive Environment), internet safety, bullying prevention, and decision-making workshops.
- Actively participate in school safety committees and multidisciplinary threat assessment teams.
- Enhance physical security by evaluating procedures, reviewing building access protocols, and updating emergency contact information.
- Conduct security assessments and report vulnerabilities at assigned schools.
- Provide training for administrators, staff, and PTA groups on emergency response, security awareness, and crisis intervention.
- Handle investigations involving incidents occurring on or near school property.
- Provide immediate response to all calls for service, safety concerns, and potential threats.
- Monitor local incidents and social media activity for any threatening or concerning posts, evaluating secondary hazards and responding accordingly.
Year-Round Initiatives:
While school safety remains a daily priority during the academic year, the School Safety Division remains fully engaged throughout the summer and off-season to ensure continued safety preparedness.
- Youth Preparedness Programs – Teaching summer safety awareness to students through community outreach initiatives.
- Security Assessments – Conducting annual reviews of school buildings and updating emergency response plans.
- Summer Camp Security & Monitoring – Providing police presence and safety oversight at local summer programs.
- S.H.A.P.E. Curriculum Development – Reviewing and improving the Safety, Health, and Positive Environment (S.H.A.P.E.) program to align with emerging safety concerns and best practices.
- Pre-School Year Training & Drills – Ensuring staff, administrators, and first responders are prepared for emergency situations before students return.
- Community Education & Public Safety Presentations – Leading workshops on internet safety, personal security, and emergency preparedness for students, parents, and school staff.
Through these ongoing efforts, the Fairfield Police Department School Safety Division ensures a safe, informed, and prepared school community—year-round.
S.H.A.P.E Program
In order to prioritize and facilitate other school safety functions, the Fairfield Police Department School Safety Division has implemented the S.H.A.P.E. program as an alternative to the D.A.R.E. program.S.H.A.P.E. is an acronym for Safety, Health And Positive Environment.
Read more about SHAPE
