It’s back to school for some of Guam's men and women in blue, but this time, they’re not students. They're School Resource Officers ready to protect and serve on campus.

“DOE—they have our assistance whenever they need a response, and rather than calling patrol when they’re out there saving the rest of the community, we’re here, we’re on-site, we’re ready to go,” said Officer Jessilyn Balajadia. 

Balajadia begins her first day as a SRO at John F. Kennedy High School, one of six Guam Department of Education campuses now benefiting from a partnership between GDOE and GPD to enhance school safety.

It’s a move welcomed by JFK’s acting Principal, Asherdee Rosete.

The Tamuning campus, which serves both the JFK and Simon Sanchez communities, made headlines in 2023 after a riot broke out.

“We have the support here in the event of any reports considered criminal activity. The administration has access to our SRO on campus. There will be times when our SRO will have presentations for awareness and just to provide the support,” said Rosete. 

Now, SROs can respond faster, file reports on-site, and strengthen the connection between GDOE, law enforcement, and the community.

They're also there to support students beyond the law. 

“In school, it’s to remind them that we’re here for them. In a different aspect, we’ll put the police officer aside and just speak to them—so more of the mentorship,” said Balajadia. 

And as for concerns about armed officers on campus, Rosete says, “In the event of any emergency, having the response of an officer right at a moment’s notice is to ensure that we’re all safe. So, they’re not here to come in and lay down the law and be sheriff in town—they’re here to support our students and faculty and the entire community.”

School Resource Officers are also deployed to George Washington High, Tiyan High, Southern High, and Okkodo High School.