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What it's Like Being a School Resource Officer
Many of us know that our schools have police officers on site to keep our students and staff safe. What we don’t realize is everything that truly goes into being a School Resource Officer and the relationships they form with our community daily to provide that safe and nurturing environment.
Officer Amy O’Keeffe is that rock for J.R. Tucker High School. “She really cares about the students here and has good relationships with them,” said Senior Michael Jackson. Only in her second year at Tucker, she has already formed bonds, gained respect and provided a safe place for students and staff. The following is an interview with Officer O’Keeffe on what it is like to be a School Resource Officer.
- What does a day in the life of a High School Resource Officer look like?
My morning starts off with being on campus when the kids arrive at J.R. Tucker High School which is around 8:30 a.m. I am usually on the walkway greeting kids or talking to school administration about what our day is looking like. I patrol around campus, and handle calls from teachers or administration. The calls vary from larceny, trespassers on campus, accidents, medical emergencies, and disorderly students. There are three lunches at Tucker, so I am in the cafeteria during this time. I am also responsible for organizing police officers to work sporting events or large social gatherings at the school such as football games, basketball games, and dances. During dismissal, I am at the bus ramp to assist the kids getting on the bus. - How long have you been serving as an officer and working for Henrico County?
I have been a police officer 16 and a half years. This is my sixth year as a School Resource Officer. I served four years at Virginia Randolph High School and two years at Tucker. - What made you choose to be a Resource Officer?
Officer Amy O'Keeffe outside her office.I really do enjoy kids. My passion is high school kids. I think it’s because I know they are getting ready to head out into the real world and I know if I mentor them, give them good sound advice, and try to explain to them how the real world works, maybe I’ll really reach some of these kids. Most high school kids have never had an interaction with the police. And if they did, it’s probably not positive. I think that kids in general need to see police officers in a different light. They need to see the positive side, the funny side and the human side of police officers. Over the past several years, police officers have been exploited by the media and it’s sometimes very difficult to gain the trust of these young kids. But, you do it by changing one life at a time. I learned early on as a School Resource Officer, you can’t change or reach them all, but you can change or reach at least one.
Obviously, my primary job is to keep the kids, and staff safe on campus. But I think most importantly, it’s my job to build and form relationships with people. The people you work with and the kids you see on a daily basis become like family since we see more of them than we do our own family.
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
Probably the mentoring part. I think it’s really important to teach kids about what the consequences of their actions could be depending on the choices they make. I also think it’s very important to be personable and show kids that police officers are normal people too. I love to get into the classrooms and teach kids about the law and what their rights and the expectations are of an adult if they get pulled over on a traffic stop for example. - Is it tough being a female in a male dominated profession?
It was in the beginning because I felt like I had to prove myself to the guys I worked with. Now that I’ve been here for almost 17 years, I feel like I have established myself as a confident and competent police officer. And I have taken risks like becoming a Firearms Instructor in a mostly male dominated field. - What is one high and one low you have had to experience in your field?
The biggest high was seeing a young man graduate from VA Randolph HS that had SO many issues while growing up. He had gotten in trouble at an early age, put on probation and lived in a foster home. He turned his life around and graduated high school. I loved this kid and was so incredibly proud of him for his hard work and accomplishments. The greatest low I had was responding to a drive by shooting in a neighborhood where I worked in uniformed patrol. I had gotten to know the family really well from working that area for so long. The mom was a paramedic and her two teenage kids attended Highland Springs High School. Their daughter was struck by a bullet while riding in a car on the way to her house. I was the first officer on scene and attempted CPR but she sadly passed away from her injuries. I rode in the ambulance with her and was with the doctor when they told the parents she had passed. It was the lowest point in my career. - How do you create community in your school?
You have to get to know your kids on a personal level. Ask them questions about their family. Ask them about what sports they like to play, or about their hobbies. Eat lunch with them. The best way to get to know a kid is if you arrest them for something, follow up with them about the incident. I’m not talking about grilling them about the crime they committed. Use that as an opportunity to mentor them and help them learn from their mistakes. Show them a different path, and encourage them to do better. These kids secretly want to be encouraged, loved, and given support. Most of my kids find it very unusual that I’m not mad at them or hold a grudge against them for doing something wrong. I tell all my kids, everyone makes mistakes. But it’s how you redeem yourself from that mistake that makes a better person. - Is there anything else you would like readers to know about?If a high schooler is reading this article, get to know your School Resource Officer. Be the change in society and break that mold about talking to the police. We are people too and obviously we love to serve the public and our community. And, of course, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t put a plug in for our Recruiting Unit. We are always looking for police officers and communication officers. For more information visit our division website.