This examination sought to gather data on the perceived degree of violence in schools and the effectiveness of the school resource officer (SRO) programs developed and implemented to reduce school violence. In addition, the perceived responsibilities of SROs were examined, highlighting their variability and scope. For this purpose, Florida K-12 public school administrators, teachers, SROs, and other school employees were asked to participate voluntarily in an electronic survey to gauge their perceptions. The following questions guided the research: 1. To what degree is violence or violent attacks requiring law enforcement intervention perceived as a problem in schools? 2. To what degree are SRO programs in public K-12 schools perceived to be effective? 3. What is the role of an SRO according to education professionals? The methodology design provided a summative examination of SRO programs' perceived responsibilities and effectiveness in increasing school safety. The research was conducted using an electronic survey approach. Participants were solicited using social media from Facebook groups containing members claiming to be stakeholders in the Florida public school system. Regarding the perceived degree of violence or threat of violence in schools, most participants agreed that the level is above average in their schools. Regarding the perceived degree of effectiveness of SRO programs in schools, most participants agreed that the presence of an SRO is effective in deterring and inhibiting violence or violent attack in their school. Regarding the perceived role of SROs, most of the participants agreed that the primary priority of an SRO should be to serve as a safety or security officer, dealing with issues that require law enforcement intervention. However, analysis of the results revealed only incremental differences between the perceived priorities of safety/security, educator/counselor, and disciplinarian. Moreover, the results contribute to a better understanding of schools' needs in terms of safety and support from law enforcement professionals. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]