School Security Officers (SSO)

Our SSOs by law must be former law enforcement officers with at least fifteen years of experience. SSOs are responsible for the overall safety and security of their assigned school and they are trained in active threat response as well as a variety of skills as more fully described below.

The SSOs recruitment process began in the fall of 2022 and it resulted in nearly two dozen candidates submitting applications for employment.  The candidate pool was narrowed through several comprehensive interviews that included the Darien Police Chief, our Directors of Security, Finance & Operations, Human Resources, all elementary school principals, and our Superintendent, Dr. Alan Addley.

Subsequently, each of the six SSO candidates endured an intensive testing and selection process that included a comprehensive public safety psychological evaluation, a background investigation, medical and drug testing.

Some of the training that our SSOs will receive includes CPR, basic first aid, AED, de-escalation, campus security, visitor management, School Gate Guardian, threat assessment, blood borne pathogen, FERPA, school law, mandated reporter, physical and psychological management training, RULER, DBT, responsive classroom, scenario-based training, preventing bullying, emergency response training, and sensitivity training.

Our SSOs will begin orientation, training and certification on April 3, 2023.  This training and certification will be led by the Darien Police Department and Darien Schools subject matter experts. After completion of training, the SSOs will be assigned to their respective schools on April 17, 2023.

Each of the SSOs have at least twenty years public safety experience and all are well suited to enhance the safety and security within our District.

The SSO recruitment process began in the fall of 2022, resulting in a high-quality candidate pool. The Darien Police Chief, the Directors of Security, Finance & Operations, Human Resources, elementary school principals, and the Superintendent of Schools interviewed the finalists. The finalists completed an intensive testing and selection process, including a thorough public safety psychological evaluation, background investigation, and medical and drug testing.

Dr. Addley commented, "These SSOs varied and accomplished experiences in law enforcement and school security will strengthen the safety and security within our District. We welcome them all as members of our Darien Blue Wave community."

The SSOs will begin orientation, training, and certification on April 3, 2023. The training and certification will be conducted by staff at the Darien Police Department and Darien Public Schools. The SSOs will be assigned to their respective schools on April 17, 2023.

"The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a priority," said Leon Krolikowski, Director of Security. “I am thrilled to work with these public safety professional SSOs as we work as a team to enhance the safety and security within our District.”