Willowbrook welcomes new School Resource Officer

Pictured is Villa Park Police Department Detective Donald Giammarino, who has been named as Willowbrook’s new School Resource Officer.

When Donald Giammarino was a student at Glenbard East High School, he would observe the School Resource Officer (SRO) and was always impressed by the positive impact that position had on him, his peers and the building's culture and climate overall.

Giammarino is now a Detective with the Villa Park Police Department and will serve as Willowbrook’s new SRO. Giammarino succeeds Bryan Hruby, who served in that role since 2015.

“I’ve always valued this positon,” Giammarino said. “In my new role as SRO, I want to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the children in the community. I want to not only help protect the entire school’s student population, teachers and staff members, but also understand the children, get to know them and maybe even help put some on a path for success.”

Giammarino began his career as a police officer about six years ago with the North Chicago Police Department. He has been with Villa Park for the last four years. He said he has been shadowing Hruby and attending training for the past few months to ensure he’s successful as Willowbrook’s SRO.

“I believe with this position you need to be more than just a police officer – you need to become a teacher and an informal counselor,” Giammarino said. “I am blessed and honored to have this opportunity. I am ready and extremely excited to start this new journey in my career.”

Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause said the school is grateful for its partnership with the Villa Park Police Department, and he looks forward to having Giammarino join the Warrior family. He added Hruby and the previous SROs have done a tremendous job, and that position is an important asset to help ensure Willowbrook meets its top priority of maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.