Rodney Lehman Named VWSD’s School Resource Officer of the Year

Vicksburg, Miss.-Rodney Lehman has been named the Vicksburg-Warren School District School Resource Officer of the Year. The school district made the announcement last week on Facebook where Officer Lehman was shown receiving his certificate.

“Congratulations to Officer Rodney Lehman, Campus Police/School Resource Officer at Academy of Innovation, who was named VWSD School Resource Officer of the Year for 2024-2025,” the post read.

“Officer Lehman is a dedicated and compassionate school resource officer who goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.”We are proud to have Officer Lehman as part of our school community.”

Officer Lehman primarily works at the Academy of Innovation but is often seen floating around many schools within the school district. A native of Greenville, Mississippi, Lehman came to Vicksburg as a teenager and has been a public servant for all of his adult life.

Before graduating high school, Lehman joined the Culkin Fire Department. He has also served in various roles with the Vicksburg-Warren 911, the Vicksburg Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

In Lehman’s role as a School Resource Officer, he is responsible for the safety of students and staff as he assists in multiple ways.

Congratulations to Officer Lehman on your recognition and keep striving to help the students at the Vicksburg-Warren School District.

Duties of a SRO:

• Enforce state and local laws and ordinances. 
• Make appropriate referrals to juvenile authorities or other governmental agencies.
• Work to prevent juvenile delinquency through close contact and positive relationships with students. In addition the SRO shall develop crime prevention programs and conduct security inspections to deter criminal or delinquent activities. 
• SRO should monitor crime statistics and work with local patrol officers and students together to design crime prevention strategies
• Establish and maintain a close partnership with school administrators in order to provide for a safe school environment. 
• Assist school officials with their efforts to enforce Board Of Education policies and procedures. 
• Ensure school administrator safety by being present during school searches, which may involve weapons, controlled dangerous substances or in such cases that, the student’s emotional state may present a risk to the administrator. 
• Assist school administrators in emergency crisis planning and building security matters.
• Provide a course of training for school personnel in handling crisis situations, which may arise at the school. 
• Be visible within the school, the school grounds and areas surrounding the school
• Attend and participate in school functions. 
• Build working relationships with the school’s staff as well as with student and parent groups as part of the SS/HS project.
• Report to work daily
• Work with guidance counselors and other student support staff to assist students and to provide services to students involved in situations where referrals to service agencies are necessary.
• Assist in conflict resolution efforts.
• Promote the profession of police officer and be a positive role model. Increase the visibility and accessibility of police to the school community. 
• Provide instruction in character education and mentor at-risk students.
• Provide law enforcement and police services adjacent to the school. 
• Investigate allegations of criminal incidents per policies and procedures.