Skip To Main Content

School Resource Officer

Kent Richards SRO

Kent Richards is a 25-year veteran of the Hamilton Police Department. Officer Richards earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology from Worcester State University and a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College. Officer Richards has been certified by the National Association of School Resource Officers since 2016. Since becoming a certified school resource officer, Officer Richards has taught several classes for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District, Pingree School and Penguin Academy in Wenham. Officer Richards is a certified K-12 A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) instructor. Officer Richards is also a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council’s School Threat Assessment Response System (STARS) team.

Officer Richards is a Hamilton native and former student of the Cutler, Winthrop and Buker Elementary Schools. He’s a graduate of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, Class of 1990. Officer Richards is married and has two teenage sons. In his free time, Officer Richards enjoys coaching high school football, fishing and spending time with his family. Officer Richards is excited to meet both the students and parents of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and work with faculty to make this a great school year.

Throughout this school year, your child may see Officer Richards in the hallway, at lunch, or in the classroom. Please encourage your child to offer a high five or a handshake as a way of introducing themselves to SRO Richards. I know that Officer Richards will do the same.

Kent Richards SRO

School Resource Officer's Duties

We are fortunate to benefit from having a School Resource Officer (SRO) in our schools. When given the opportunity, proper training, and support, SROs become important members of our school communities. School Resource Officers often become trusted mentors, role models for students and support for staff. The table below clearly outlines what an SRO is and is not.

School Resource Officer Richards will be seen in and around our schools throughout the school year. Having an SRO in our schools supports our Towns community-oriented policing philosophy while also increasing collaboration between both town police departments and our schools. We are very appreciative and excited to work with both the Hamilton and Wenham Police Departments to ensure successful implementation of this program.

   Our school resource officer is...
  
    The school resource officer is not...
  • Someone who will foster positive relationships with students, staff and the community Able to assist with educational or instructional activities
  • Someone who will be involved in school emergency management planning
  • Someone who will investigate and respond to criminal misconduct
  • Someone who will be available when there is reasonable fear for the safety of students or personnel
  • Liaison for Parents, Students and School Faculty
  
  • Assigned to one school
  • An employee of the school system
  • A disciplinarian
  • An enforcer of school regulations
  • In place of school mental health providers
  • Actively looking for criminal violations
  • Here to arrest students