At a time when school safety remains a top concern for families across America, one truth is clear: proactive protection saves lives. That protection often begins with School Resource Officers (SROs)—trained law enforcement professionals who serve on the front lines of school safety, mentorship, and crisis prevention.

The School Resource Officer Support (SROS) Act (H.R. 6120 / S.3189) is a critical piece of legislation designed to strengthen and expand that protection—and the Police Officers’ Defense Coalition (PODC) is proud to support it.

School Resource Officers do far more than respond to emergencies. They deter and prevent school violence before it happens, build trusted relationships with students and staff, serve as mentors and role models, provide immediate response during critical incidents
In many communities—especially rural areas—SROs may be the first and only line of defense during an emergency.

H.R. 6120 and S.3189 are focused on ensuring that schools have access to experienced, well-trained law enforcement personnel—particularly retired officers and veterans who are uniquely equipped to serve in these roles.

One of the key provisions of the legislation creates a federal tax incentive that allows retired law enforcement officers and military veterans to serve as school resource officers without being penalized financially for returning to service.

Specifically, the bill:

• Allows qualified SROs to exclude retirement income from federal taxation while serving
• Encourages experienced officers to re-enter public service in schools
• Provides a long-term incentive for continued service, including extended benefits for those who serve 10+ years

This approach removes a major barrier that has prevented many highly trained individuals from stepping into school safety roles.

As supporters of the bill have emphasized, having trained officers on campus every day ensures that threats can be stopped before they escalate, rather than waiting for outside response. 

The Senate version of the bill, S.3189, was introduced on November 18, 2025 by Senator Tim Sheehy (R–MT), and the bill is co-sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R–WY) and Senator Jim Justice (R–WV). 

In the House, the companion bill H.R. 6120 is led by Representative Ryan Zinke (R–MT), and co-sponsors include a bipartisan group of lawmakers:

• Rep. Donald G. Davis (D–NC)
• Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R–PA)
• Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R–AZ)
• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D–NJ)
• Rep. Michael Lawler (R–NY)
• Rep. Pete Stauber (R–MN)

This bipartisan support highlights a growing consensus in Congress: protecting students and supporting law enforcement in schools is not a partisan issue, it’s a national priority.

Police Officers’ Defense Coalition strongly supports the School Resource Officer Support (SROS) Act and urges Congress to act. Every student deserves a safe learning environment. Every community deserves protection. And every officer willing to serve should be supported, not penalized.

We ask all of our grassroots supporters to stand with us. Call or email your Representatives in Congress today and tell them to stand with those protecting America’s schools and to pass the SROS Act!

The Police Officers’ Defense Coalition was formed to advocate for police officers, public safety officers, sheriffs, and those representing the law enforcement community to fight against the “War on Cops.” For more information, visit https://policeofficersdefensecoalition.com/