New
SRO combines
teaching and law enforcement
into the perfect job
by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
A love of teaching and the love of being a police officer
has combined to offer Darrick Bruns what he feels is a
perfect job opportunity within the Platte County R-3 School
District.
Darrick
Bruns,
has joined the Platte County School District
as the new school resource officer. Bruns
said his love to teach and his love for law
enforcement have combined to make the
SRO position at the school district an ideal
job. |
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Bruns, the newest school resource officer (SRO) in the
Platte County R-3 School District, said the "interaction
with students" is one of the greatest parts of being
an SRO.
"I love teaching and I love being a police officer.
Therefore, I get the best of both worlds with this job
because I get to teach here," Bruns explained.
"All people have a voice to be heard and sometimes
in society we don't listen to our children's voices. I
let them know that I will hear their voice and that includes
every student from kindergarten to the 12th grade."
During his time as SRO officer, Bruns will teach the
students on many different topics and has already implemented
a program that gives the students an opportunity to voice
their opinion. The program, known as the Breakfast Club,
gives Bruns an insight into the students' world and what's
going on in their everyday lives. While the club will
soon be offered throughout the district, it is currently
being held at the middle school.
A friend and former co-worker, Bruce Snodgrass, Platte
County 7th grade teacher, helped bring Bruns' love of
both worlds to Platte County. A call from Snodgrass told
Bruns of the districts opening for an SRO officer.
Prior to moving to Smithville, Bruns worked as an SRO
officer for the Cameron School District.
"My wife was offered a job in downtown Kansas City,
and it just became too long of a commute to Cameron every
day. I felt my job could sustain a move and I was ready
for new surroundings, so we moved to Smithville,"
said Bruns.
Bruns served on the Cameron Police Department for 14
years, with his last 1-1/2 years dedicated to the students
in the Cameron School District.
Bruns stated that he originally became involved with
the SRO program at Cameron through his connections with
the children and families of a Cameron serving as a summer
softball/baseball coach.
"Due to my rapport with the children, the police
chief of Cameron asked if I would be interested in the
position and I accepted."
Prior to serving in Cameron, he also worked as a police
officer for seven months in Lathrop. Bruns became a certified
police officer in the State of Missouri in 1987 after
attending the Air Force.
As the Platte County R-3 SRO, Bruns will be responsible
for working all crimes committed on school grounds and
will be responsible for building rapport and relationships
between the students, staff and law enforcement, especially
serving as a liaison between the police department and
the schools.
"In my opinion, from what I've seen here kids don't
look at this program as a bad thing. Instead, I find the
general student population thinks it's a good thing having
me here," said Bruns.
"The school's response to the program is very positive,"
said Bruns. "And the SRO program can be a very uplifting
program for a community, but it's all in the way it's
run. If it's run properly, it's a win-win situation for
everyone involved."
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