GEORGETOWN — Chief David Sedgwick is pleased to share that School Resource Officer Taylor Ford was recognized by the Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officer Association (MJPOA) with the 2025 Exceptional Service Award during the New England School Safety Conference held on May 6 and May 7.
Officer Ford has been a member of the department since 2015 and became a School Resource Officer in 2021. She works in all three Georgetown Public Schools throughout the week.
Officer Ford participates in a variety of programs including being a member of NEMLEC STARS, a RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) Program Instructor and is a Certified Recovery Coach who provides support, guidance and resources to those in recovery.
Officer Ford facilitates multiple programs throughout the school district, including substance abuse and bullying lessons, and ‘I Love You Guys’ protocols for critical incident and active shooter response training. She also runs a Social Media Education and Awareness program for both students and parents in Georgetown. The program highlights the dangers of social media and the negative effects of having an online presence while providing safe practices for students.
School Resource Officers serve as a bridge between local law enforcement and the school district, maintaining a close relationship with students and faculty daily. Having an officer stationed at the schools provides a quicker response during school-related incidents.
Officer Ford actively builds strong, positive relationships with students and faculty, which fosters trust and security among students, encouraging them to voice concerns and seek guidance when needed. She often assists in the de-escalation of incidents and mediates disputes between students, preventing disruptive behavior, bullying, and promoting peaceful conflict resolution.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Officer Ford responded to 383 calls for service at the schools and conducted 30 investigations, which resulted in one arrest.
“I am proud of Officer Ford for her dedication, determination, and commitment to making our schools a better and safer place here in Georgetown. She is well deserving of this award,” said Chief Sedgwick. “Officer Ford plays a crucial role in creating a safe, supportive, and positive environment for students. She goes above and beyond to make students feel heard and mitigates incidents through de-escalation and active response. Our department is fortunate that we are able to have an officer within our school district who works to find alternative forms of discipline and helps to stop problems before they arise.”
About MJPOA
MJPOA is a combination of hard-working and dedicated School Resource Officers, Juvenile Officers, DARE Officers, Detectives, Supervisors, Youth Officers, Probation Officers, Principals, Assistant Principals, Teachers, Counselors, and School Safety/Security Personnel, all working together.
The goal of the organization is to assist police and school personnel in creating a safe learning environment for all students and staff. While creating a safe learning environment, we also stress the importance of building partnerships between the school, police and fire departments. These partnerships help guide and direct us as a team during an incident.
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