They’re not just glorified hall monitors.
Student resource officers, or SROs, are mentors, confidants and champions of safety in the Maricopa Unified School District and Sequoia Pathway schools.
“This school year presents an opportunity for growth and connection,” said Maricopa Police Department Sgt. Pamela O’Neal, who oversees the SRO Unit. “Our SROs are dedicated to not only ensuring safety but also creating an environment where students can dream big and pursue their goals with confidence, knowing we’re here for them every step of the way.”
Meet this school year’s SROs:
Officer Adam Abel, a police officer for 16 years, oversees the safety of Maricopa Wells Middle School students.
Abel’s day starts with monitoring traffic from parents dropping off kids and then monitoring the kids while they wait for school to start.
“I then meet with students one-on-one as needed,” Abel said. “On occasion, I teach a class related to some sort of law enforcement or anti-drug/bullying. A big part of my day is interacting with students and teachers and building connections.”
Abel said he’s excited about the opportunity to help students find their future career choices and life decisions.
His words of encouragement: “School can be tough. You have to do well by your teacher’s standards, keep your grades up, maintain friendships, and make your parents proud. That can be a lot, but it’s important to know that no matter how bad it can get at times, those times will end, there will be good times again, and there is someone who will always be proud of you and will always want to see you succeed.”
Officer Zak Bittner has five years of police experience and this year he’s Desert Sunrise High School’s SRO.
Bittner said he has found law enforcement to be “extremely rewarding.”
“Once I gear up and arrive at the school, I normally greet as many staff and students as possible as the day begins and monitor the activity around campus,” Bittner said. “Throughout the day, I follow up on past cases, communicate with school staff, and monitor the campus for safety purposes. I also continue to plan lessons as much as possible regarding law-related education and monitor both the school and department radio channels for emergent situations.”
He said he looks forward to training security and school staff on safety, implementing law enforcement education within the classroom and watching the first DSHS senior class graduate in May.
Bittner encourages students to think about what they would like to do for a career once they graduate. He said high school will then go by quickly.
Officer Brian Brown has 19 years of experience as an officer and detective. He has been an SRO for three years and will spend this year at Desert Wind Middle School.
“I’ve always had the mindset of protection as a job, so the police was the next logical level,” said Brown, who was raised in a military home and joined the Navy but retired from the Army National Guard.
“When you come to work, you never know what the day is going to end like. So, to be honest, there is no typical day except for going home safely,” Brown said. “After 19 years of this job, it’s refreshing to talk with young people before bad things happen and even help prevent bad things from happening.”
Brown’s words of encouragement to students: “Life may be hard at times, but just know it will get better.”
Officer Jamie McCauley, who has six years in policing, is this year’s SRO at Maricopa High School.
“When I arrive on campus, the first thing I do is monitor traffic for student drop-off,” she said, describing an average day. “Then, I walk around campus, helping students get to classes and conversing with the students and staff. I walk around during every passing period to deter students from skipping classes before I end my day by monitoring traffic leaving the school. The main goal is to build connections with students and encourage them to do their best, all while making safety at school a priority.”
McCauley said she looks forward to getting to know the students more, watching all of the sporting events and seeing the seniors graduate.
“I know there are many students who don’t have anybody rooting for them to succeed,” said McCauley, sharing words of encouragement. “I want them to know that I am, and I know each and every one of them is capable of achieving great things.”
Officer Matt Rexinger, with 17 years of experience at Maricopa Police Department, is Sequoia Pathway’s charter school SRO.
A cop for 22 years total, Rexinger said, “I wanted to be an architect out of high school and started college as an architect major. While in school, I had a roommate who became a police officer, and I started doing ride-alongs with him. That’s when I knew what I wanted to do in life.”
Rexinger’s typical day begins at 7:30 a.m.
“When the gates open, I greet the students as they arrive,” Rexinger said. “I spend the rest of my day in and out of classes, teaching various topics and meeting with students who want to talk about anything they’d like. I also check the campus for any safety issues or concerns. At the end of the school day, I wrap up my day back at the police headquarters.”
Rexinger said he’s excited to watch the students grow and mature along their path to becoming young adults.
His advice to students: “Stay focused, prioritize your responsibilities and have fun.”
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