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School security from GRDX places school safety officers, Special Police officers or off-duty police SROs at private, charter and faith-based schools in Northern Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. Officers manage the front entrance, arrival and dismissal, visitor screening and after-hours events, reporting to a supervisor available around the clock.
Which type of school officer do we need?
Most schools pick one of three roles, and the right one depends on your campus, your budget and how much authority you want the officer to carry.
Public districts often have a county SRO program. Independent and charter schools usually do not, so they contract for it. The table below shows how the options differ.
| School safety officer | Special Police officer | Off-duty police SRO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main role | Entrance, visitors, arrival and dismissal | Same posts with added legal authority on the property | Sworn officer working an approved off-duty assignment |
| Arrest authority | No | On the protected property, where commissioned | Yes, per their agency |
| Common fit | Elementary and small campuses | Larger campuses, D.C. and Virginia sites | Schools wanting a police presence |
What an officer does during the school day
The officer's day follows the bell schedule, with the heaviest work at drop-off, lunch and dismissal.
Mornings are about the car line and the front door. Midday is visitor sign-in, deliveries and walking the halls. Afternoons bring dismissal, where the officer watches for unauthorized pickups and keeps traffic moving so a child does not step between two SUVs.
- Visitor screening at the main office, including ID checks against your sign-in system
- Perimeter walks to confirm side and rear doors stay closed
- Car line and crosswalk support at arrival and dismissal
- Lockdown and evacuation drill participation
- Written reports to the head of school after any incident
Security for faith-based schools that share a building
Faith-based schools often share a campus with a church, mosque or synagogue, which means more doors, more adults and more events than a standalone school.
A weekday funeral, a midweek service or a food pantry can bring strangers onto the property during class hours. We plan posts around both calendars so the school wing stays separate from public traffic. Officers know which doors lock at 8:15 and who is allowed through them.
Games, concerts and after-hours events
Evening events need coverage because the crowd is larger and the building is less controlled.
Friday football, winter concerts, graduation and open houses bring parents, alumni and visiting teams. GRDX can add officers for the gate, the parking lot and the gym door, then lock up with your facilities lead afterward.
Athletics
Gate, bleachers and the visiting-team bus area.
Performances
Lobby and auditorium doors while families come and go.
Parking
Lot patrol during events, when car break-ins are most common.
Drills and emergency planning
Officers take part in your lockdown and evacuation drills so the plan works with them in it.
We ask to see your current emergency plan before the first day. The officer learns the rally points, the classroom lock procedure and who calls 911. After a drill, we share what we noticed, like a door that did not latch.
How we choose officers, and how to start
Every officer is licensed and verified before scheduling, and a supervisor checks on them in person.
Uniforms are inspected to Class A standard. Your head of school gets one named contact and a supervisor who answers 24/7. If parents, staff or students are not comfortable with an officer, we replace that officer. Our leadership includes former D.C. police, an Army military police veteran and a retired sheriff's office Inspector General.
We also keep the same officer on your campus where we can, so students and staff learn a familiar face.
Call (833) 350-4739 and we will schedule a campus walk, usually during arrival or dismissal so we see the real traffic. A written proposal follows with posts, hours and officer type. Requests get a reply within one business day.
Questions
Can a private school hire an SRO?+
Yes. Private and charter schools can contract off-duty police officers for SRO-style work, subject to the officer's agency rules. GRDX also offers Special Police and school safety officers as alternatives.
Are your school officers armed?+
Some are and some are not. We decide that with your leadership based on campus size, location and policy, and we will explain the tradeoffs during the walk.
Do officers need background checks to work at a school?+
Every GRDX officer is licensed and verified before scheduling. If your school requires additional checks for anyone working near students, tell us and we will plan for it.
Can we book an officer for after-school events only?+
Yes. Many schools start with games and evening events, then add daytime coverage later.
Which schools do you serve?+
Private, charter and faith-based schools across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and suburban Maryland.
Will your officer join our lockdown drills?+
Yes. Officers take part in lockdown and evacuation drills and share observations with your administration afterward.