Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  The Orange Beach Police Department is once again hosting the School Resource Officers and educators from across Alabama at the annual TAASRO Safe Schools Conference. Held at the Orange Beach Event Center, the event brings together law enforcement and school staff for a week of critical training. Chief of Police Trent Johnson delivered the opening remarks on Monday morning to kick off the conference. The gathering is seen as a key moment for building stronger, safer school communities statewide.

The Alabama Association of School Resource Officers, known as TAASRO, hosts this conference annually. It is considered the top school safety event in Alabama. Officers and school administrators spend the week on professional development to make schools safer for students.

The training covers several key areas. Attendees learn advanced techniques for behavioral threat assessments and school security. They also study the latest trends in safety challenges and digital threats facing young people. A major focus is on building stronger partnerships between law enforcement and educators so students can thrive.

Chief Johnson used his opening remarks to underscore the critical role School Resource Officers play every day. "SROs are not just law enforcement," he said. "They are mentors, protectors, and trusted pillars within our school communities." His remarks helped set the tone for the week ahead.

Orange Beach has even more reason to celebrate during the conference. Orange Beach Middle and High School was recently honored with the Alabama Attorney General's Safe Schools Award for the second consecutive year. That honor reflects the close, day-to-day teamwork among officers, school administrators, and the Orange Beach City Schools system.

Winning the award two years in a row is no small achievement. It shows that the relationship between local law enforcement and school staff is working. Students in Orange Beach benefit every day from that steady, dedicated collaboration.

The Orange Beach Police Department expressed deep gratitude to all the SROs who work hard to protect Alabama's students. Hosting the TAASRO conference is both an honor and a responsibility. The department hopes officers leave the week feeling equipped and energized to keep schools safe across the state.