Extra emphasis on protecting students and faculty in WNY schools

"Today was my first day of school also, so just like the students I have some learning to do," new Depew school district resource officer, Scott Hossfeld said.

Hossfeld starts the new school year as the first SRO in Depew school history. It's all apart of a campaign to make schools safer for students and faculty.

"By listening to the students and listening to their story hopefully that will bridge the gap between police and students," Hossfeld said.

In the wake the recent school shootings in America, school safety has become a major concern for parents, students, and teachers. Its why many school districts across the country are adding more resource officers to protect schools.

"We just added two full time SRO's," Lieutenant Brandon Walters of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, said.

He helps oversee the 10 school resource officers in his county.

Cattaraugus actually has the most resource officers in WNY with 10 Chautauqua County has nine and Erie County has about seven.

Even though Erie County is the population hub for WNY, the Sheriff's Office says it all comes down to funding, whether its from the school district, county, or state.

Throughout WNY there are about 40 SRO's about one fifth of which are new. It all indicates an upward tred of hiring more SRO's to keep students and faculty safe.

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