Support for SROs FROM

The Editor

Over the last few years, the idea of defunding the police was tied to the idea that we would have better outcomes with depleted law enforcement resources. While I am continually in support of more training, continued discussions when an incident happens and departments evolving for the better with education — I was never on the defund any local law enforcement messaging.

In all the calls for defunding police, an area that likely got caught up unfairly in the discussions was school resource o cers. In 2020, local news reports called for removing SROs in light of a national anger at law enforcement in some Denver metro schools.

Here we are years later and regular crime at a Denver metro high school has gotten so bad that even students at East High School staged a protest to ask for better.

As discussions continued, several have now admitted that the idea of SROs doing more harm than good was a bit misguided.

Before becoming a parent, I worked with SROs in Arizona on a regular basis. I loved working with these o cers. I loved seeing them work with students. ey truly cared about a student having a bad day. ey understand the need to communicate and spend extra time with students who are obviously going through a rough time.

For other students who may have taken rst in a track meet or won the spelling bee — these SROs are some of the biggest cheerleaders in the school.

I loved how receptive these students are to the SROs. ey serve as security, counselor, mentor and friend. ey can spot a student who may be posing a threat to the school based on changed behavior and habits.

Now, I am a parent. As a parent, knowing what I know from my days as a journalist doing a “ride-along” with police, I would never push to take SROs out of schools.

ese men and women are some of the best members of our communities. ey likely have more knowledge of what is happening with students in our schools because they are trained to do so. I do not think I have ever met an SRO who does not like their job. ey are good at their jobs because they love their jobs.

When I see an SRO at a local school, I never think of unneeded authority. I automatically think my kids are likely getting great mentorship from an adult who is trained to protect them and advocate for them.

I believe all of our local school districts should look to bring in more SROs, and frankly, given the state of mental health with our children, especially here in Colorado, another set of eyes, an extra advocate for our children can only be a positive thing.

I hate that negative publicity has hurt these people who are great additions to our education system and I hope, given some recent discussions, they get back on track and in full force in schools.

Just to give a shout out to other community aspects of our local law enforcement — In Douglas County I have taken a class in how to survive in case of a mass shooting. Brian McKnight, prevention specialist/community resources, taught me to sit a certain way in a building. I look around for exits, I look for weapons — I look at how I will survive. ese programs are unfortunately welcome and needed.

I did a ride-along with the Community Response Team in Douglas County. In watching Deputy Zach Zepeski in one day – I was amazed at the di erence he and his team makes in the daily lives of our citizens.

Law enforcement is not just about writing tickets and drawing a gun. From citizen academies, training sessions and community support — I say don’t be so quick to put them down, and instead experience and be a part of the good they o er.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The team building event was held at Top Golf. e vice president of sales was reluctant to have the meeting there as he had never played golf and didn’t want to embarrass himself. His team convinced him that he could just join them and not have to worry about playing or swinging a club.

As the night went on, the team did everything they could to get their boss to step up and give it a try. ere were others on the team that were in the same spot, having played very little or never. Men and women taking their turns embarrassing themselves with awkward attempts to hit that little white ball. In the end, the vice president of sales chose to keep his dignity intact and did not take his turn amongst the team.

Having spoken with some of the salespeople and the VP of sales privately, I heard mixed opinions about the deci-

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com sion not to join the group. Some thought it showed poor leadership in not being vulnerable enough to laugh at yourself and have a little fun with your team as there were more hacks trying to hit the ball than there were any good golfers.

When I asked the VP of sales why he chose not to try, he was completely transparent with me, sharing that he just didn’t want to embarrass himself. He felt he was being open and vulnerable to his team as well sharing with them the very reason he chose to stay in the background. It was a bit of a shame because sometimes it’s OK to show humility among our teams and peers.

Two of the words that we hear often when it comes to expectations of leadership and really people in any role are vulnerability and transparency. We no longer must have all the answers or pretend that we do. We no longer have to be perfect or pretend that we are. Maybe the world we live in places that kind of pressure on some of us, and the stress of that pressure can drive us further away

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Chronicle. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Call first: 9233 Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree, CO 80124

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: ParkerChronicle.net

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

HALEY LENA Community Editor hlena@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper. To opt in or out of delivery please email us at circulation@ coloradocommunitymedia.com