(ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX – June 9, 2015) Grace Milder, 14 and a student at Williams Middle School this past school year, wasn’t afraid of police officers – but she didn’t think they were much fun. Then she got to know Officer John Donaldson, the Rockwall Police Department’s School Resource Officer at Williams.
“He’s a lot like us!” the outgoing teenager said, noting that Officer Donaldson engages in students’ conversations. “He’s not so serious – he even photo-bombed our picture!”
Officer Donaldson is one of six school resource officers (SROs) that the police department assigns to schools in the Rockwall Independent School District nine months a year as part of a joint cost sharing agreement between the two entities. The officers work to earn students’ trust and respect and to help correct behavior before there are problems.
“This is a great example of proactive policing,” said Rockwall council member Scott Milder, who just happens to be Grace’s dad. “They earn the trust and confidence of students so they feel comfortable approaching not only Officer Donaldson, but any police officer should they have an emergency themselves or know of something going on at school or at home that shouldn’t be.”
Officer Donaldson said he offers advice and tries to protect kids from the dangers and consequences they face today.
The father of four said his job is to serve as a line of defense for kids considering what is going on in this country and the world. But he’s also there to offer advice and to protect them from the dangers and consequences that kids face today.
“I treat them like my own kids. I’m always sticking my nose in uninvited! I also talk to them about the importance of self-worth. So many kids have problems with self-worth,” the cheerful officer noted, explaining that he sometimes works one-on-one with students in an effort to show them their value.
Officer David Andrews, assigned to four elementary campuses, said his job is to protect school staff and students – and “to build a rapport with kids, parents and staff. It’s important to teach kids the dangers of drugs and criminal activities while in elementary school.”
Having students come up and hug him when they see him around town “…is why I do this. I wanted to have a positive impact on youth – and I think we do that. I love kids!”
Officer Ben Woodruff at Rockwall High School wants to be an example to teens and a mentor.
“My door is always open, and they know they can come in any time for advice or just to vent,” he noted.
Completing her first year as an SRO and assigned to Utley Middle School, Officer Melissa Clay said, “I love the kids, and I love the school atmosphere. We have a lot of opportunities to influence kids on a daily basis.”
SROs serve the Rockwall community in a unique way, said Police Chief Mark Moeller.
“Every one of them is an outstanding officer; they all have developed strong relationships with the kids at their respective schools, and they are all very positive role models,” Chief Moeller said, noting that the department would like to expand the program both in numbers of officers assigned to elementary schools and to include some education/safety classes. “I think hearing from these experienced and very knowledgeable officers would go a long way to help address those problem issues that kids face today, especially in the younger grades.”
Other SROs Jose Urive (Quest Academy) and Deuce Waters (south elementary schools).
By Judy Evans, Judy Evans, a consultant for the City of Rockwall and a Blue Ribbon News contributing writer.
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