This will be a bio page for Officer Adam McBride, as well as an explanation of the SRO program with the Huntingdon Area School District.

The goal of the Huntingdon Borough Police Department SRO program includes providing a safe learning environment within the HASD, providing valuable resources to school staff members, fostering positive relationships with youth, developing strategies to resolve problems affecting youth and protecting all students, so that they can reach their fullest potentials. 

SROs are trained first responders, capable of handling emergencies of all types. Because they are housed in our schools, they are immediately available to assist students, employees and visitors during any emergency situations. Their roles in emergencies in or around the schools will vary depending on the type of emergency. As trained first responders, they can administer emergency aid if needed and coordinate and facilitate emergency responses from outside agencies via their ability to communicate directly with the Huntingdon County Emergency 911 Communications Center. The SRO has been trained to administer Narcan, and is certified in first aid/CPR. Given their positions and direct communication with the County 911 Center, they often are the first to know of potential hazardous situations such as weather alerts, tornado warnings, and critical or criminal incidents near the schools.

The SRO does not leave the campuses when off-campus emergencies arise, unless directed by the Chief of Police.  In this event, proper administrators and staff will be notified.  They ensure that our students and staff are safe and secure and provide timely and accurate communications to HASD administrators regarding the community emergency. There have been critical incidents in the community in which the SRO was notified via their police radios and were able to alert nearby HASD schools immediately and have them take appropriate action to ensure their safety. The SRO is also able to quickly ascertain the validity and seriousness of outside incidents because of their ability to monitor and directly respond with emergency communications on their police radios.

Campus Safety

SROs play a critical role in maintaining campus safety to protect our students and employees. In the event of a crisis such as an intruder, they can respond quickly on the scene while helping to coordinate other responders. Additionally, the SRO is in charge of leading campus security efforts by district employees. As the district’s resident safety and security experts, SROs advise the district Emergency/Safety Operations Team in developing the Emergency Operations Plan and general safety procedures for all buildings. For example, SROs work with faculty, staff and students to provide Lockdown training.

At HASD, an SRO also serves as an integral member of our Safe2Say Something response team. Having an SRO on the team, which receives tips 24/7, has proved to be valuable because the officer brings investigative experience, community connections, and institutional knowledge.

Additional HASD SRO Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a member of the Threat Assessment Team 
• Helps to create a safe school environment and maintain collaborative communication and cooperation with the school administration and staff
• Maintains high visibility in and around the assigned schools 
• Works closely with students, teachers, parents, and community agencies such as Juvenile Probation, and Children and Youth Services 
• Assists in diverting students from the juvenile justice system 
• Conducts and assists in criminal investigations, particularly those which occur on school property or on the way to and from school. 
• Participates in school and community activities (e.g., school assemblies, faculty meetings, PTA/PTO/PTSO meetings.) 
• Assists with after school activities and events as needed. 
• Becomes knowledgeable about appropriate school district policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Develops and implements campus traffic control plan 
• Processes motor vehicle accidents on campus
• Completes a daily report of activities (DSR) – to be turned in to the Chief of Police daily

Community Partnerships and Educational Outreach

SROs build and foster positive interactions with students, parents, staff, and faculty to promote trusting relationships with law enforcement. These officers also work with faculty and staff in developing strategies to resolve problems affecting youth, including the restorative practices with diversionary programs (i.e., community service rather than entering the county level juvenile justice system). Also, the SROs provide law-related education and presentations to students and serve as a guest lecturer when needed.

In the district, SROs:

• Create a positive role model for students by building positive relationships with students and staff to promote a positive image of law enforcement, creating a link between law enforcement and the students, and being a resource for parents, staff, administration, and students in regards to law enforcement and community problems.
• Promote drugs/vape identification, awareness and safety.
• Engage in media relations as expert sources on such topics as school safety and drugs/vaping.
• Give presentations on safety relating to drugs, alcohol and social media.
• Educate students on social media safety and digital citizenship.
• Instruct drug education programs as developed or requested.
• Assist in developing and facilitating programs directed toward school safety and law enforcement education for students and staff. 
• Increase educational opportunities for staff and students around law enforcement and citizenship issues.
• Contribute to drug and alcohol abuse prevention efforts.
• Present unit on traffic stops to all Driver’s Education students.
• Assist in maintaining a safe learning environment by contributing to the reduction of school violence.
• Assist “at risk” youth through a range of intervention programs offered within the school and community.
• Assist the district with educational outreach efforts such as school bus safety campaigns and anti-vaping initiatives.

In the district, SROs do not:

• Discipline students
• Help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to find and arrest undocumented students and/or their families. SROs do not consider or report immigration status when interacting with students.
• Serve as Administrators to District software
• Act as an agent/employee of HASD

When the district receives complaints regarding adults, including parents or employee concerns, they consult with the SROs and consider whether a complaint needs to be filed with the police.

The Huntingdon Borough Police Department SRO Program provides SRO(s) to the Huntingdon Area School District to provide dedicated law enforcement presence and availability during the contracted hours of the school day. 

The SRO(s) are placed within HASD to provide safety and security, visually serving as an external and internal deterrent to criminal and/or unlawful activity.  The SRO(s) will be visible in all buildings daily, checking both external and internal parameters for safety/security issues and/or concerns.