Councilwoman Ann O'Brien Celebrates Historic Vote Expanding School Resource Officers

For the first time, Phoenix will have retired police officers serving as School Resource Officers this fall. The historic school safety initiative, championed by Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, was approved by the City Council today.

"Our students deserve safe schools, and our educators deserve support," O'Brien said. "When I learned that schools were requesting more School Resource Officers than we could provide, I was determined to find a solution. By bringing partners together, we created a pathway to place more qualified officers in our schools and better serve students and teachers."

The solution became the Retired School Resource Officer program, made possible through state legislation sponsored by Senator David Gowan and signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs. The law allows retired Arizona law enforcement officers to return to serve in schools without jeopardizing their pensions or creating additional liability for taxpayers.

"School Resource Officers do far more than respond to emergencies," O'Brien said. "They build relationships with students, mentor young people, support educators and help identify and address concerns before they become larger problems. This historic vote ensures more schools will have access to those benefits."

The agreements will place 69 officers in 19 districts and charter schools for the 2026-2027 year. The numbers include two retired officers. The program is funded through a partnership among the Arizona Department of Education, participating school districts, and the City of Phoenix, with schools and districts covering 75% of salary and benefit costs.

Media Contact
Christina Estes, Director of Communications
christina.estes@phoenix.gov
602-520-2762 call or text

About District 1: Powering Phoenix’s Future

District 1 is at the center of regional mobility and commerce and anchored by some of the most significant economic development projects in Arizona, including TSMC, Halo Vista and The Metropolitan.

Located in northwest Phoenix, District 1 is bounded by Northern Avenue to the south to just north of New River Road on the north. District 1 shares its western boundary with Glendale and Peoria, while its eastern boundary aligns with Interstate 17. At Bell Road, the district extends east to 19th Avenue and includes Deer Valley Airport north of the Loop 101. Learn more about District 1.