On behalf of the entire Athol Police Department, I would like to thank nearly 400 of our Athol public schools students who took a moment out of their day to high-five a police officer in support of High Five Friday on April 13.
The initiative was presented fairly recently by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a way for police officers to meet and greet school children, and a way for the kids to get to know their neighborhood police officers as people, just like them.
High Five Friday and other opportunities to engage school-age children with a positive encounter with police officers are critical. They are part of our commitment to community policing and legitimacy in policing — the more positive interactions we can have with our community and our children, the better.
The Athol Police Department has a very positive relationship with the entire school community, and we have maintained a long-standing positive police presence in the school. We have a school resource officer (SRO), who is crucial part of this relationship. Officer Doug Kaczmarcazk is filling this role superbly. The SRO program is a bridge between the schools and the police department, and it is something coveted by many other communities that have been unable to gain the funding for such a position.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the role of a school resource officer, you should know that the vast majority of situations handled by the SRO stay in-house and are dealt with locally. Translation: The officer is not there to arrest and jail students who are found to be doing something wrong. They are part of the school community, and if the situation needs to go to higher level, input is taken from the school and police team in developing the correct strategy.
We also see, nationally, the following benefits from the presence of SROs:
The SRO and expanded police presence increases safety in and around the schools.
The perception of safety is enhanced by their visible presence.
Police response time is improved by having an officer on-hand if there is ever a dangerous incident.
There is a reduction in truancy cases by building familiarity between the police department and students.
The enhanced police presence creates fewer distractions and allows teachers to teach and better prepare for teaching duties.
We also utilize the Athol KIDS (Keeping Innocents Defended and Safe) program, which introduces students to safety and security strategies and assures a positive police relationship. A police presence at sporting events, the after-prom party and other extracurricular activities have been a standard extension of this relationship. Your police officers are part of your community here in Athol. We have children and grandchildren attending the schools. Our spouses work there and teach there. We are volunteers and coaches in the community.
The Athol Police Department serves and protects the entire community, and our children are an utmost priority. We are proud to greet you before the school day, and even prouder when you share a high-five with us — even if it’s not on a Friday.
Police Chief Russell T Kleber
Athol