Edina's school resource officer program took center stage at the City Council's weekend retreat, with police officers and school administrators explaining how relationship-building serves as a cornerstone of their approach to student safety.

Officers Kyle Water Street and Joseph Delah Housen currently serve as the city's school resource officers, splitting duties between Valley View Middle School and Edina High School. Each school serves roughly 2,000 students. The officers rotate through these assignments every three to four years, with schedules adjusted based on the needs of both the school district and police department.

"I look at it as a way to try to build relationships with students, and if you can build those positive relationships and get them strong nice and early, the chance of having to deal with a student on a negative aspect is less," Officer Water Street told council members. Officer Delah Housen echoed that philosophy, saying he took the position because he wants to help younger students make good decisions.

Superintendent Dr. Stacy Stanley emphasized that these connections extend beyond school walls. "You hear kids all the time talking about Officer Joe and just how important he is, or Officer Kyle and how they're able to talk to him," Stanley said. "That just plays a significant role as kids are out in the community. In the event anything does happen in the future, those relationships are established and there's a sense of trust."

School administrators noted that when students are asked whether they want resource officers in their schools, they typically express support for the program. The officers operate as part of the school district's broader safety and security plan. No votes were taken at the retreat, which served as a discussion session rather than a formal business meeting.