Deerfield High School's New Resource Officer Ready for Duty

Anthony Kropp, a 6-year veteran of the Deerfield Police Department, will be Deerfield High School's new resource officer. Kropp will step into his new post on Monday, Aug. 12, ahead of the start of school on Aug. 21, according to a press release.

Kropp said his interest in the SRO position came from the positive relationship he had with the SRO at his high school.

"I want to build a bond with the students, staff and parents," he said. "I will be a resource for everybody and help in any way I can."

Kropp will remain an active member of the police department, but will be assigned to Deerfield High School full-time. "I want to credit Police Chief John Sliozis and Mayor Harriet Rosenthal for working with the high school to make this program happen," he said.

The DHS administration had been considering the addition of an SRO for some time, according to the press release. Highland Park High School, also part of District 113, has had an SRO for the past nine years.

"We say school resource officer for a reason, because he’s a resource across the school,” said HPHS Dean Patrick Sassen. SRO duties include visiting driving safety and business law classes and providing security training for staff.

Other nearby public high schools with SROs include Stevenson, Buffalo Grove, New Trier and Lake Forest.

“We love the idea of having a liaison with the police department, in the sense of the community that it brings,” said Ken Williams, an assistant principal at Deerfield High School.

Williams said DHS has been impressed by the positive results other SRO models have had, from being a resource to kids who’ve just received their first ticket to those in more serious circumstances.

Kropp, said Williams, "is someone we thought the kids would readily seek out" as a resource.

Information submitted by Deerfield High School