HOOVER, Ala., April 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An annual national school policing conference scheduled for July is expected to be the largest such gathering ever held. Two large organizations are jointly hosting the annual School Safety Conference for their members: the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers (FASRO). The conference will take place July 5-10, 2015, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. It marks the 25th anniversary of NASRO.
A school resource officer (SRO) is a specially trained law enforcement officer who serves on school campuses. With 600 members, FASRO is the nation's largest state organization of SROs. Because the conference will combine FASRO and NASRO members, commemorate NASRO's silver anniversary and include presentations by some of law enforcement's most recognized speakers, leaders of both organizations expect 1,500 or more people to attend.
"We're extremely excited to jointly present this conference with NASRO," said FASRO president Lt. Tim Enos. "It's a great opportunity for our members to see courses and classes on a national perspective and it's also good for NASRO members from around the country to see what we're doing here in Florida, where we're pretty progressive in school policing."
Enos added that he hopes other state associations will follow FASRO's example and host future NASRO conferences.
NASRO executive director Mo Canady said, "Collaborating with FASRO is especially appropriate because NASRO was founded by three FASRO members 25 years ago. Our members are looking forward to this unique conference."
NASRO plans to honor its founders and all past board members during opening ceremonies at the 2015 conference.
Last year, 800 people attended the annual NASRO conference, including SROs and other law-enforcement officers, as well as school security and safety officials, school board members, administrators and others interested in school safety.
The conference offers attendees an opportunity to receive 30 hours of training; visit an exhibit hall with the latest in products, technology and innovations; complete on-site NASRO training courses at no additional charge; and interact with SROs, school administrators, sheriffs and chiefs of police from throughout the country and world. Available training includes NASRO's Basic SRO Course, ideal for the many law enforcement officers who are newly assigned to work in schools.
More information about the conference, including a complete agenda and online registration, is available at www.nasro.org/conference/.
About NASRO
NASRO is a not-for-profit organization for school-based law enforcement officers, school administrators and school security/safety professionals working as partners to protect students, school faculty and staff, and the schools they attend. NASRO is located in Hoover, Alabama, and was established in 1991.