What does it mean to be a School Resource Officer? You are the visible face of authority to both the students and the staff. You wear the uniform and carry a gun, but sometimes all you can do is listen until it becomes a law enforcement problem. You are also a first responder when defending your school from violent attacks. Sometimes you have to act because it is too late to talk. I heard about a School Resource Officer who spoke up at a school board meeting, and what he said speaks for most of us.