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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . 2➤ Nappanee Apple Festival . . 3 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . 12
Vol. 55, No. 11
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
School resource officers a daily presence
in Kosciusko County schools
A FRIENDLY FACE — Warsaw’s school resource officers provide a friendly face to help keep education secure for students and teachers alike. From left are officers Cpl. Jordan Roberts, Patrol Officer Lewis Fuller, Sgt. By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer When Warsaw Community High School students step off the bus in the morning, one of the first faces they see is school resource officers. For many, the brief interaction sets the tone for a school day shaped as much by mentorship as by security. Warsaw Community Schools employs six school resource officers, with two stationed full-time at the high school, one at each middle school and two at the elementary level. Additional support comes from the Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, particularly during large events. Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert called the officers “absolute rock stars,” emphasizing their role as trusted adults rather than just enforcers of rules. “Building relationships is their main goal,” Hoffert said. “We want our students to see officers as somebody they can trust, somebody they can go to when they see something that isn’t right.” For Officers Cpl. Brandon Zartman and Sgt. Phillip Reed, who patrol the
high school, a typical day begins with greeting students at entrances. From there, the hours are filled with mentoring, counseling, and responding to issues as they arise. Much of their time is spent on informal conversations, talking about a weekend football game or simply checking in on how a student is doing. “We want them to feel safe and comfortable, and to know they can talk to us about almost anything,” Reed said. The Warsaw SROs also handle safety measure, such as checking doors, organizing drills and monitoring social media trends, which could spill into the classrooms. While physical altercations and drug use occasionally demand attention, officers said vaping remains the most widespread issue across all grade levels. Social media, they added, has become a constant presence, creating conflicts, which continue long after the school day ends. Even with those challenges, Zartman said the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the change in students over time. “Kids are so impressionable. A lot of times with us helping and our adminis-
Phillip Reed, Patrol Officer Kelly Bradley, Sgt. Joel Popenfoose and Cpl. Brandon Zartman. Photo by Chris Francis, Warsaw Police Department.
tration talking to these kids, we can get them on the right path,” he said. Other districts across Kosciusko and southern Elkhart counties also rely on SRO programs, though their size varies. Wawasee Schools has two fulltime officers and, in the case of Milford School, supplemental coverage from Milford police. “Their presence goes far beyond security; they are mentors, educators, and trusted partners,” said Wawasee Superintendent Dr. Steven Troyer in a statement. Tippecanoe Valley employs two officers at its middle and high schools. Wa-Nee Schools operates one of the larger programs, with five SROs from the Nappanee and Wakarusa police departments, each assigned to a building and present at sporting events. Whitko Schools relies on former South Whitley Town Marshal Mikel VanDevender, who rotates among the district’s buildings throughout the week. All officers assigned to schools in Indiana complete specialized training through the National Association of School Resource Officers, Indiana School Resource Officer Association or another
approved program, beginning with a 40hour basic course and often continuing into advanced classes. They can also attend sessions offered by the ISROA and the state’s School Safety Specialist Academy to stay updated on safety and prevention strategies. For many, the decision to leave street patrol for a school setting was a natural next step. Zartman, who has been an SRO for nine years, said he wanted a change of pace and found working with students reenergizing. Reed, in his fourth year, agreed. “I knew I would enjoy working with schools, but I didn’t realize how rewarding it would feel, because you can actually see the changes in some of these kids. It makes you a better officer and a better person in general,” he said. The programs’ growth comes as state and federal funding faces uncertainty. Despite funding questions, officers and administrators alike say the value of the programs is clear. Hoffert compared their presence to healthy habits. “Their daily presence is a deterrent. Parents love seeing the patrol cars in front of schools,” he said.