AFSCME Public Safety Professionals Embrace New Roles in Schools

As students and teachers gear up for the new school year, another group of essential individuals is also preparing for the return to the classroom: school safety officers. These professionals, often known as school resource officers or security officers, play a critical role in maintaining a secure learning environment.

Among them are two AFSCME public safety professionals from the Northeast, who are stepping into new roles within schools after long careers in law enforcement. Both are adapting to the multifaceted responsibilities of being the sole public safety presence in a school, acting simultaneously as law enforcer, counselor, and role model.

Transition from Detective to School Guardian

Bart Deeley, a retired detective sergeant with 30 years of service in Connecticut, has taken on the role of armed security officer at Lakeview High School in Litchfield. His daily mission is to foster a positive school culture where students feel secure and supported.

"You have to extend yourself to the students. My main purpose is to build a positive connection. I want students to come knock on my door. I need them to entrust in me," Deeley explains. "I have to shape a culture of safety, prevention, and awareness."

Deeley's commitment includes being the first person present in the school each morning and the last to leave, ensuring he connects with students as they arrive and depart. "I say good morning to everyone when they get in, and good night to everyone when they leave," he notes.

Transitioning from working with adults to interacting with students requires a shift in approach, as Deeley highlights: "Unlike being on patrol in a community where you mostly interact with adults, you have to remind yourself that these are kids. How you deal with them, how you approach them — you’re the one setting the example."

He emphasizes the importance of de-escalation techniques, which he continues to refine through training provided by his union, AFSCME Local 75 (Region 20 School District), Council 4. Deeley joined the school last winter and reports a positive experience so far, which includes interactions with his son, who is a student at the school.

To avoid awkwardness, Deeley arranges for a substitute to oversee the lunchroom when his son is present, ensuring both his professional duties and personal relationships are maintained without conflict.