SCHOOL RESOURCE DEPUTIES

2021 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR

for the school resource deputies, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The schools in San Luis Obispo County went to distance learning and only the school staff were at the school sites. Deputies assisted the school staff with contacting students and their parents to get the students connected with the online distance educational process from January 2021 to June 2021.

Due to students being out of school and the loss of in-person instruction, most of the schools in the County of San Luis Obispo had summer school for all students. The school resource deputies help the school staff and students with the summer school process.

Between January and May, school resource deputies helped plan and facilitated San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office sponsored Retro Bill “Virtual” schoolwide presentations. which was taught by the deputies and staff. The kids participated in fun events like tie-dying team shirts, tug of war, hungry hippos, trust walks, and dance routines. There were afternoon assemblies each day. The assemblies featured Retro Bill (Motivational Speaker), Zoo to You, Sheriff’s K-9 Demonstration, Templeton Dance Company, and 3 Screens Motivational videos.

The kids at the camp were provided snacks and lunches each day, which were prepared by the deputies and staff. Due to the State’s COVID-19

In June of 2021, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputies held the annual Sheriff’s Office Youth Summer Camps, after not having the camps in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sheriff’s Office held three camps in 2021, using the State of California COVID-19 Virus Summer Camp Protocols. The camps were held in north, south and coastal areas of the county. Busing for the camps was only available in the coastal area. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and no available busing in the north or south areas of the county, the camp attendance was lower than normal years.

The enrollment for the camps is as follows: the north camp had 30 kids, the coastal camp had 65 kids and the south camp had 40 kids. Deputies and staff followed the State COVID-19 Protocols, and they did not have any issues with any kids or staff being exposed to the virus.

The kids learned about cyberbullying, anti-smoking, communication skills, negative and positive peer pressure,

Protocols, instead of buffet lunches, each child was given their lunch in pre-prepared brown bags.

THE 2021 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF’S YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL, UNDER THE DIFFICULTIES PRESENTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE DEPUTIES AND STAFF WORKED VERY HARD AT MAKING THE CAMPS FUN AND SAFE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE SHERIFF’S YOUTH CAMPS IN 2022.

The 2021 San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camps were very successful, under the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deputies and staff worked very hard at making the camps fun and safe under these conditions. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to the Sheriff’s Youth Camps in 2022.

In August, most of the schools in the county area returned to in-person instruction. The deputies assisted the school staff, kids, and parents to make the successful transition. Deputies contacted students and parents, who did not return to the in-person instruction right away.

One Coast Station SRO continued to sit on the Juvenile Justice Committee Board, while representing the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.

From August to December, Coast Station SRO taught G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) in-person to 220 6th Grade students at 5 schools between coast and south county schools. The deputies that have not returned to teaching in the classroom hope to do so in January 2022.