BY JASHHVANTH TAMILSELVAN
T
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
hroughout the years of elementary school, middle school, and high school, students have seen many faces. They have seen many friends, many teachers, and many mentors. But one face that they see more often than they realize is Officer Jon Karl. From conducting Safety Town to serving as the high school’s mentor on safety and firearms, he has been with us from the beginning of a lot of our journeys. But in July, he will finish his journey as the North Royalton High School’s police officer. Taking over for his position at the high school is none other than Officer Lexie Bell. Ever since his childhood, Officer Karl was surrounded by police officers. “My father was a police officer, “ he said. “I grew up around police officers, so I was familiar with, you know, many of the people that were in the
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profession.” At first, Officer Karl went to the University of Dayton to study electrical engineering. After three semesters, he decided that it wasn’t his calling. “That didn’t work out, so I came home,” he said. After this, he went to Tri-C to get his Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice Law Enforcement. He also attended the Private Security Academy for the state of Ohio. “I always found it interesting, different. There are a lot of opportunities to be with people, to help people, and I felt kind of silly, but when I was interviewed for the job...that’s one of the questions and I said...I want to help people.” In 1982, Officer Karl was hired as a correction officer by the County’s Sheriff ’s Office. He held that position for six years. In September of 1988, he began to work as a police officer for the city of North Royalton. From then until now, he has been working as a police
