Lincoln-area deputy to take on part time School Resource Officer duties

In many communities, law enforcement officers serve in middle and high schools as School Resource Officers, providing mentoring, education, and law enforcement services in the school. Lincoln School will soon have its own School Resource Officer at the school on a part-time basis.

The Sheriff's office explained that there are currently SROs provided by the Helena Police Department, but this will be the first SRO at the county level.

Lincoln's resident Deputy Robert Rivera, who proposed the program, is one of three deputies who serve the north part of Lewis and Clark County from Lincoln to Augusta, as well as Wolf Creek and Craig.

"The goal is to educate students on how to live in the world and to mentor students to build relationships so they feel comfortable around law enforcement officers and (feel) like they have someone to go to," Rivera said,

Rivera previously completed a weeklong course to become SRO-certified and wanted to see more done for Lincoln students. After the Lincoln School Board approved Rivera's proposal for an SRO, the school converted storage space into an office for deputies to use while on-site. Because Rivera is currently the only SRO-certified deputy in the northern part of the county, he will be the only one performing walk-throughs of the school, teaching lessons on driving, mental health, and drug and alcohol abuse, and engaging one-on-one with students in the SRO capacity.

The other two north deputies will receive SRO training this summer. No additional funding was designated for the program, and Rivera said deputies will be at the school as time permits.

"I think it will be nice to have that presence in the school, to have a positive role model," Jennifer Packer, Lincoln Superintendent and High School Principal, said.

In addition to the new SRO program, Rivera will be piloting a version of D.A.R.E. for middle school students. Called "Keepin' it REAL," this will be the first version of the program offered to seventh and eighth grade students in Lewis and Clark County. Rivera will meet with students on Wednesdays for ten weeks.

D.A.R.E. curriculum is currently provided for fifth grade classes in 22 schools across the county, with approximately 850 student graduates of the program each year. Additional curriculum is offered to some kindergarten through fourth grade classes, as well as to some high school classes.

The public should continue to contact the Lincoln area deputies at the substation on Stemple Pass Road or by calling (406) 241-6967.