Outline of the state of Indiana
State
Indiana
Required

Category
School Resource Officer Training

Category
School Resource Officer Training

State law requires SROs to complete specialized training to meet the safety needs of the school environment.

Indiana Code 20-26-16-4 Minimum training requirements

An individual appointed as a school corporation or charter school police officer must successfully complete at least:

  • (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f); and
  • (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer.
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 20-26-16-5 Training for certain officers

(a) Notwithstanding section 4 [IC 20-26-16-4] of this chapter and IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school corporation police officer before July 1, 2007, must complete, not later than July 1, 2010, at least:

  • (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f); and
  • (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer. (b) As set forth in IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school corporation or charter school police officer may not:
  • (1) make an arrest;
  • (2) conduct a search or a seizure of a person or property; or
  • (3) carry a firearm; unless the school corporation or charter school police officer successfully completes a pre-basic training course under IC 5-2-1-9(f).
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 20-26-18.2-1 School resource officer

(a) As used in this chapter, “school resource officer” means an individual who:

  • (1) has completed the training described in subsection (b);
  • (2) is assigned to one (1) or more school corporations or charter schools to:
  • (A) assist the school safety specialist with the development and implementation of the school safety plan as provided in section 2 [IC 20-26-18.2-2] of this chapter; and
  • (B) carry out any additional responsibilities assigned to the school resource officer under the employment engagement, contract, or memorandum of understanding and to:
  • (i) protect against outside threats to the physical safety of students;
  • (ii) prevent unauthorized access to school property; and
  • (iii) secure schools against violence and natural disasters; and
  • (3) is:
  • (A) employed by a law enforcement agency;
  • (B) appointed as a police reserve officer (as described in IC 36-8-3-20) or as a special deputy (as described in IC 36-8-10-10.6) if the police reserve officer or special deputy:
  • (i) is subject to the direction of the sheriff or appointing law enforcement agency;
  • (ii) is required to obey the rules and orders of the sheriff’s department or appointing law enforcement agency;
  • (iii) is required to complete all training required of regular full-time law enforcement officers employed by the sheriff’s department or appointing law enforcement agency; and
  • (iv) may be removed by the sheriff or appointing law enforcement agency at any time, with or without cause; or
  • (C) a school corporation police officer appointed under IC 20-26-16-3.

(b) Before being appointed as a school resource officer, an individual must have:

  • (1) successfully completed the minimum training requirements established for law enforcement officers under IC 5-2-1-9; and
  • (2) received at least forty (40) hours of school resource officer training through:
  • (A) the Indiana law enforcement training board established by IC 5-2-1-3;
  • (B) the National Association of School Resource Officers; or
  • (C) another school resource officer training program approved by the Indiana law enforcement training board.

(c) Training described in subsection (b)(2) must include instruction regarding skills, tactics, and strategies necessary to address the special nature of:

  • (1) school campuses; and
  • (2) school building security needs and characteristics.
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 20-26-5-31. Training for school corporation police officers to deal with individuals with autism and Asperger’s syndrome

(a) If a school corporation, including a school city (as defined in IC 20-25-2-12), establishes a school corporation police department, the governing body of the school corporation shall adopt a policy that requires every individual appointed as a school corporation police officer to complete training and education, approved by the state board, that will enable the school corporation police officer to appropriately deal with individuals with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. (b) This subsection applies to a regular or special police officer who is assigned as a security police officer for a school corporation under IC 36-8-3-7. The governing body of the school corporation to which the police officer is assigned shall ensure that the police officer receives training and education, approved by the state board, that will enable the police officer to appropriately deal with individuals with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Policy Type
Statute

Safe School-based Enforcement through Collaboration, Understanding, and Respect

(b) Before being appointed as a school resource officer, an individual must have: (1) successfully completed the minimum training requirements established for law enforcement officers under IC 5-2-1-9; and (2) received at least forty (40) hours of school resource officer training

Policy Type
Non-codified