LORENA, Texas — A Central Texas school resource officer (SRO) has been honored at the state level thanks to his hard work, but for him it's all just part of the job he loves.
6 News sat down with the man who won the Lynelle Sparks Officer of the Year award to learn what goes into the job and the impact the SRO role has on campuses.
Lt. Peter Rivas, who got promoted to lieutenant on Oct. 1, is the one that proudly claims that title. He works under the Lorena Police Department and had chosen to become a school resource officer in 2018. Rivas was actually the first SRO for Lorena ISD -- being the pioneer for the program that's now grown and shows a clear impact.
"Since we've started our SRO program here, I've seen a marked difference with our kids that when they see a police officer, they're more willing to come talk to us because they see that we are just people that they can come to, that we're here to help," Rivas explained.
Rivas said he is proud of the team of SROs they have and that they all have become an essential part of the campus they are assigned to, but all the community.
"They talk to us about certain things that they normally wouldn't talk to anybody else about and that's where that building the bond comes in because once you show them that you're there for them to help them out -- they'll come and seek you out and they're happy to see you," Rivas added.
It's also created a sense of peace for students, know that they have SROs on campus. A Texas law went into effect Sept. 2023 that requires an armed officer on every public school campus, but Lorena ISD and Lorena PD have been participating in the school resource officer program way longer.
"I just feel really safe like i can trust them," said Brooklynn Rodriguez, a junior at Lorena High. "I know what they're here for."
Rodriguez has gotten to know Rivas as he is based at the high school currently. Rivas said becoming a SRO was one of the best decisions he has ever made and he mostly enjoys celebrating the kids accomplishments, especially walking across the stage in cap and gown.
"That helps drive you because it gives you a little bit more motivation that you see somebody young that has their life ahead of them," Rivas said. "They're doing great things over here and to get to recognize them individually for the things that they do, it makes it worth it."
ut of thousands of school resource officers across the lone star state... lt. rivas was nominated and then chosen to win the 2024 lynelle sparks officer of the year award through the texas association of school resource officers.
Being present as a mentor and a leader are just a few aspects of ensuring a safe and secure campus as an SRO. Lorena ISD said the five guiding principles of the LISD School Resource Officer Program are: to help ensure a safe and secure educational environment; educate and mentor students; take a proactive approach to establish positive relationships; be present and accessible; and to lead by example.
6 News saw that SROs do a lot of walking and driving on campus grounds, too. Rivas said it's not a job for just anybody.
"We're dealing with kids here so we try to use our best judgment and have the most level headed and charismatic, I guess you'd say, police officers that are assigned to the school," Rivas explained.
Out of thousands of school resource officers across the Lone Star State, Rivas was nominated and then chosen to win the 2024 Lynelle Sparks Officer of the Year award through the Texas Association of School Resource Officers (TASRO.)
The award is just a reflection for the work Rivas does day in and day out, with the support of his team and Lorena ISD.
"He obviously does care about us because he's trying to make a bond with us too at the same time," Rodriguez added.
Rivas said it's important to see what trends are happening across the nation within schools to ensure they can be prepared, but also be able to guide and educate students on what is wrong, and how leopards act.