Recognizing Excellence in School-Based Policing
- February 7th 2025
- School News
Joe Jourdain has served as Sanford Middle School’s Resource Officer for five years.
Photo Credit: Sanford School Department
By Sam Bonsey, Sanford Schools Communications Coordinator
Sanford Middle School’s School Resource Officer (SRO) Joe Jourdain was recently honored with the Wayne Drown School Resource Officer Award at the Maine Association of Police annual banquet.
The award recognizes excellence in school-based policing and dedication to serving the school community.
“It’s easy for me to do my job here because the staff, the school department, everybody’s so welcoming,” Officer Jourdain said. The honor came as a surprise to Jourdain, who learned about his nomination just days before the January 25th ceremony.
Having served as the middle school’s SRO for five years, Officer Jourdain stands out for his commitment to building meaningful connections with students and staff alike. His colleagues note that he can often be found sitting with students who are having difficult days, offering a compassionate ear and understanding support. What makes Officer Jourdain particularly effective is his deep knowledge of each student’s individual needs, preferences, and challenges – information he gains not from reports, but from genuine personal interactions.
“Coming to school and making that difference, meeting with the kids, dealing with the parents, understanding what’s going on behind the scenes to support them – that’s what drives me,” he said. “Here I can be proactive and see results right away. That’s what I like.”
His impact extends well beyond regular school hours. Even after the final bell rings, Officer Jourdain remains actively involved in ensuring school safety and supporting his school community. During summer breaks, he continues to check on students who might be struggling. He also uses this time to inspect and enhance school security measures, from checking doors to monitoring camera systems.
The nomination for this award particularly highlighted Officer Jourdain’s ability to forge connections with students who might typically be hesitant around police officers, helping them develop more positive interactions and less fear. His commitment to continuous learning and improvement is evident in the countless hours he spends researching new techniques and information to benefit both his school and police department.
The Wayne Drown School Resource Officer Award represents Officer Jourdain’s impact on the Sanford school community, but for him, the real reward is seeing students succeed.
“When you get some of those wins, you want more. Working with the kids here, having them check in and knowing their backstory… you can just kind of be like, ‘I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m here.’ At least they know someone knows, and they can talk to someone.”
