Why is there a police officer here?
I have been a School Resource Officer (SRO) for three years, and it has been the most rewarding job in my career, to date.
The seemingly simple job description does not even scratch the surface of what being an SRO means and the amount of work it entails. My hours follow the school week. However, working at Kelowna Secondary School and all its catchment schools involves investigations and activities that often extend beyond the school’s hours.
Whether it is attending football games, grad ceremonies, conducting investigations of every nature, presenting on various topics, teaching DARE, or answering calls at midnight from front line police officers looking for missing children, I act in the best interest of the schools, students, and families. I foster excellent relationships with incredible administrators, teachers, and counsellors as we work towards helping all students learn in safe environments.
A great deal of my time is spent investigating and managing issues that arise in the online world or in social media platforms. The world is, quite literally, at today’s youths fingertips, but, in turn, the world has easier access to them, as well.
Parents are great at warning children about the stranger at the mall or park. However, one of the biggest threats a child will face today is online. I do not believe in keeping youth in the cyber dark, but instead encourage parents to be informed, be involved, and be honest. I have had to learn a new app nearly every month to stay on top of the trends and to know how to investigate subsequent files involving them. Parents need to do the same; be informed, be involved, be honest. If you don’t think an app is safe for your child, don’t let them use it.
The best part of my job has been getting to know so many remarkable, inspirational, and intelligent youth. I get to build rapport and rebuild relationships with students who have had negative views of the police.
They quickly realize that I’m not just there to catch them doing wrong, but to encourage them and support them in doing right. I start almost every conversation with the same phrase, “I’m here to help you become an awesome adult.” Beyond that, what more could I hope to achieve?
They belong to a community in which everyone deserves to feel safe.