A partnership between the Columbia Police Department and Columbia School District will add an additional school resource officer.
Officials gathered Thursday at City Hall as Mayor Justin McKenzie announced the new position, which is to be filled by Sgt. Jason Cook.
Cook will be based out of Jefferson Middle School. He’ll join Lt. Cdr. Pearlie Hendricks, who is in charge of school security and who will continue to have an office at Columbia High School.
The school district will provide half the salary of the second SRO and apply for a second grant. It will also give the city another $10,000 and provide all the fuel for both of the SROs. The city will furnish the second officer with his car, his equipment and his law enforcement training.
During the summer, police will use both back on patrol.
Hendricks, a veteran officer who was recently placed in charge of school security and crossing guards, said she’s looking forward to having another officer.
“It was challenging, but I tried to be there for all of the schools. I prayed for God to send me someone,” she said. “Sgt. Cook was already laying the foundation for the schools. He would visit the schools while on duty. I’d watch him walk through the campus and things and the kids looked up to him. When he showed interest and wanted to do this, I was pleased.”
McKenzie said the project was an important collaboration between the city and school district.
“A while back, Chief Michael Kelly and Superintendent Jason Harris and I began talking about an additional school resource officer and the importance of keeping our kids safe when they are in the classroom, on the campuses and under our responsibility,” McKenzie said. “We will also be partnering to do programs with the students and we hope to influence the kids in a very positive and productive manner. We also believe that in today’s society, with all of the violence and things that are occurring throughout our nation and on our school campuses, that we step up and protect our young ones.”
He said with 1,700 to 1,800 children spread between four campuses that one officer would have a tough time knowing students by name and having personal relationships with them.
Harris said the addition of an SRO was important to the district.
“Research will tell you that the No. 1 way to improve student achievement is to have a safe and secure learning environment,” he said. “With this addition, that is, of course, our No. 1 goal.”
At the same time, Harris said it will allow the schools to start a D.A.R.E. program to be pro-active on drug prevention as Marion County goes through the opioid crisis.
“It also gives our students a chance to see our officers as the good, quality people that they are and that they work really hard day in and day out. It’s a big step for our community because our schools are our community,” the superintendent said. “I appreciate the mayor, our board and our school board working together on behalf of all the citizens of Columbia.”
Kelly introduced Cook and described him as a top-notch officer.
“Many times when you think of school resource officers, you think of someone who doesn’t necessarily fit the patrolman mold or maybe someone who is about to retire or maybe someone who is not your most physically fit officer,” he said. “Sometimes they just try to put people at the school to hide them away. We haven’t done that her in Columbia. We have put our lieutenant commander, who is current school resource officer over the safety division, and there is no other police officer in Columbia who has the tenure and who has served as she has and had the devotion for this community that she has and the devotion for the kids that she has. She has told me that it is her calling to be involved in the lives of those students. We have the right person in the right spot.
“Now we’re adding someone to help her and we’re not just giving her just anybody. We’re giving her the cream of the crop – the best patrolman that we have to protect our most valuable resource.”
Cook, a four-year veteran of the CPD, said he’s pleased to accept the role and thankful for the chance to serve. He previously worked with youth on DUI prevention when he was the city’s DUI officers.
“I look forward to being able to build relationships with our students and being able to be a role model in the community,” he said. “I want them to have a different outlook on how they look at police nowadays. Thank you for putting me in this role.”
