TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools celebrated its 2024 School Resource Officers (SROs) of the Year during a series of surprise ceremonies across the county recently. The honorees are Officer Kevin Gilbert, Elementary School Resource Officer of the Year; Officer Kenneth Pitts, Middle School Resource Officer of the Year; and Officer Steven Long, High School Resource Officer of the Year.

“Baltimore County Public Schools is fortunate to have these exemplary SROs working alongside our teachers, administrators, and staff every day to keep our students safe and our schools the welcoming learning centers they are,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “Not only are these SROs effective and caring peace officers, but they also serve as mentors and role models for our students. We owe them our gratitude and congratulations for being such important and positive resources for BCPS children and schools.”

Added April Lewis, executive director of the BCPS Department of School Safety, “Officers Gilbert, Pitts, and Long exemplify what it means to be a public servant. BCPS has so many tremendous SROs in our schools, and these three represent the qualities we value most in our SROs – professionalism, compassion, intelligence, and service, among others. Congratulations – and many thanks – to them and to the partnership BCPS enjoys with the Baltimore County Police Department in our shared mission to support school safety.”

Officer Gilbert serves 10 northwestern-area elementary schools (Cedarmere, Chatsworth, Fifth District, Franklin, Glyndon, Lyons Mills, New Town, Owings Mills, Reisterstown, and Timber Grove elementary schools). Staff and administrators praise Officer Gilbert for his professionalism, empathy, and leadership, and for being a team player. He has consistently shown that he cares about the well-being of staff and students by attending events and doing check-ins during the school day. His dedication to education extends to engaging young learners through read-aloud sessions and fostering a love for learning, as well as the work he does to promote positive relationships between law enforcement and students.

Officer Pitts has been assigned to Cockeysville Middle School for the past six years, getting involved in every aspect of life at Cockeysville and becoming a reliable and trustworthy presence in the lives of the school’s students. He can be found walking the school’s halls every day, greeting students and dispensing high-fives, fist bumps, and a constant and friendly presence. Being a resource to students is only part of his service; being able to offer advice or a sympathetic ear to students is an important and valuable part of his role as the school’s SRO.

Officer Long, who serves the Rosedale Alternative Center, is described as a voice of calm in the school, especially in high-stress situations. Not only does he bring a strong, patient, and calming presence to the school, he also has proved effective in the classroom, teaching classes helping students deal with current issues and problems they might encounter in school hallways or the community. Officer Long is described by colleagues and students as honest, fair, non-judgmental, supportive, and compassionate. Creating a positive dynamic between law enforcement and students at Rosedale, Officer Long participates in activities both in school and in the community, especially sports events.

Pictured above from left to right: Officer Kevin Gilbert, Officer Kenneth Pitts, and Officer Steven Long (photos via BCPS)