Konocti Unified School District (KUSD) enjoyed the benefits of a School Resource Officer during the 2005-06 academic year. Clearlake Police Officer Ray Brady was a visible presence on all campuses, providing a positive role model for Konocti students.
Brady”s presence was made possible through a partnership grant with the Clearlake Police Department and the Lake County Probation Department that is funded by the California Department of Justice. The grant is for three years with two years remaining.
Brady is the third School Resource Officer (SRO) to serve in the KUSD following in the likes of officers Steve Lester and Mike Hermann, respectively. The SRO serves as positive role model for the students and presents a positive law enforcement presence on campus. For the officer, the SRO provides an opportunity for positive involvement with the youth of the community. “I really enjoyed mentoring the children and spending time with them,” Brady said, “playing basketball, kick ball or just kind of hanging out on the campus and shooting the breeze.”
Placement of a uniformed officer on campuses is a benefit Brady feels helps the youngsters identify with while providing a familiar face and a positive image of law enforcement. “The kids see the uniform and a familiar face as someone they can trust,” he said. “They like the School Resource Officer and then those feelings are transferred.”
Working closely with school staff at the various campuses resulted in quick resolution of some of the problems seen on campus. “With the help of school staff, we were able to solve some of the problems we were having on campus,” Brady said, “by giving guidance to some of the problem children and removing some of the catalyst students.”
Presence of the SRO has also assisted in heightening drug prevention and awareness, teen pregnancy awareness and gang prevention. Brady has recognized a need for parental involvement in his position as SRO as well. “If parents aren”t involved and they don”t support the schools, then their kids know that.”
There were many opportunities for parents to meet and talk with the SRO during the school year as there will be in the coming academic year. Officer Brady was and will be in attendance at several school functions such as open house and back to school events, sport activities and other extra curricular occasions. “It”s all about visibility,” he said.
The current partnership grant is for three years. There are two years remaining that will place an officer on KUSD campuses. The program includes a second officer from the Lake County Probation Department served by Bart Larabee. Larabee recently reported that he is looking forward to enhancing his role in the program and that he expects to keep an office on the Lower Lake High School campus during the 2006-07 school year.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver. com.
