In 2022, the Newberg City Council pledged to create a second School Resource Officer (SRO) position for the Newberg-Dundee Public Schools.
Superintendent Stephen W. Phillips had the same goal in mind when he took on the job last school year. For many years, Newberg-Dundee Police Chief Jeff Kosmicki wanted a second SRO in the schools, but funding and staffing within the Police Department hindered this goal. With the help of the School District and the City of Newberg, Chief Kosmicki’s wish to have two SROs for the more than 4,100 students in local schools, finally came to life.
The School District will fund this new SRO position, with support from the City of Newberg. Officer Jay Stearns stepped into the role on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 5. He and current SRO, Officer Jeff Moreland, are responsible for all schools, but Officer Stearns will be assigned primarily to the elementary and middle schools and Officer Moreland will be assigned to the high schools.
Officer Stearns has extensive experience in law enforcement. He was a police officer for another agency for three years before coming to the Police Department in 2011. Officer Stearns was one of the lead person crimes detectives. He was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit for almost six years.
During that time, he investigated hundreds of child abuse cases. Officer Stearns has also received training in the new Drug Abuse Resistance Program (D.A.R.E). D.A.R.E began in 1983, but this new program is designed around Social-Emotional Learning Theory.
Social-Emotional Learning theory has identified the fundamental, basic skills and developmental processes needed for healthy development. These include self-awareness, responsible decision-making, understanding others, relationship and communication skills, and handling responsibilities and challenges. We are excited to support the continued use of Social-Emotional Learning in local schools.
Much of this work is currently underway, but, with the SRO team now doubled, even more is possible. Officer Jeff Moreland has already fostered many positive relationships within the district and, most importantly, with the students. Chief Kosmicki believes focusing on building relationships with the students is paramount to an educational approach when SROs are interacting with students at school. The aim is to promote positive behavior and prevent the need for enforcement action by offering a positive influence.
Officer Moreland adopted this style of policing for the schools and, because of that, has had to take very little enforcement action. He has been the perfect officer to be that educator in the schools, and his record of positive influence on students over the years is proof.
We are so proud of our SROs and our whole Police Department. We are also glad to have two caring, hard-working officers here to build relationships with our students and support our school community.