Do sheriff’s deputies have to meet a monthly quota for tickets handed out on streets like Herriman Ave.?
That’s the kind of question School Resource Officer (SRO) Deputy Brandon Perez has the chance to answer, along with many other duties on school campuses.
For the record, Perez notes that ticket quotas are illegal by federal law. He did, however, clarify some of the most common traffic mistakes made by students riding their bikes, such as riding the wrong way on a street, running through red lights or not wearing a helmet.
Other violations include using a phone while driving — especially around pedestrians — as well as dropoff situations in which a driver forces an unsafe maneuver like changing lanes or blocking red zones.
This year, Perez began working as a SRO at SHS and for Saratoga Union School District (SUSD). To support schools with safety, the SRO builds positive relationships with students and employees, providing education and mentorship to reduce crime through counseling, teaching and engagement.
As a school resource officer, Perez currently works as a patrol unit but isn’t stationed only at one school. While he works for Santa Clara County, he’s stationed in Saratoga and covers two private schools and seven public schools, including SHS and all the SUSD campuses. Perez interacts with students of all ages K-12 through presentations that cover topics such as bullying, internet safety and safety from strangers.
Though he said he never anticipated working in law enforcement growing up, Perez had always leaned toward jobs involving civil service. His journey started almost a decade ago in late 2014, when he applied to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office (SCCSO) at the age of 22 and was accepted after passing a standard series of extensive background checks.
Following a brief period of training, Perez started on the ground in 2015 at the Elmwood Correctional Facility, a minimum-to-medium security jail in Milpitas, and worked there for 1.5 years. He cited this as one of his most memorable experiences as a deputy, saying that when he first started in jail, he realized how fortunate his own life was.
“One of the lessons I’ve learned as an officer is to appreciate every single day,” Perez said.
Eventually, he applied to be on the patrol team and was assigned to the headquarter division of the SCCSO, working night shifts during weekends — the busiest shift of the week.
In 2022, Perez became a field training officer, where he taught and mentored newly recruited deputies in Cupertino, connecting and forming deep ties within the community. He has since worked throughout the Saratoga community as well, applying in late 2023 and becoming one of the district’s SROs in early 2024.
There really is no “typical day” in Perez’s shoes — some days could be spent patrolling schools and monitoring quietly for any commotion, while others would be spent running after people stealing goods.
Due to the unpredictable nature of his job, Perez said that the biggest challenge he’s faced by far has been the struggle in maintaining his mental health, something that is difficult due to the often tragic situations he encounters people in.
“It can be hard to keep that mental space, and you’re going to see people at their worst,” Perez said.
In the future, Perez hopes to become a detective for at least 3-5 years and eventually rise to the ranks of a sergeant and lead a patrol team. For most deputies in his position, becoming a detective is often the natural next step in climbing the ladder.
To students also looking to work as a deputy, Perez notes, “It’s important to be a well-balanced person and gain a variety of experience in life.”
