ECPD starts campus patrols with high school Monday
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com

The two police officers hired to patrol El Campo ISD schools will be on campus in October.

El Campo Police Officer Robert Holder will start his duties at El Campo High School Monday, Oct. 1, according to ECPD Chief Jim Elliott.

The second ECPD officer, Jennifer Mican, will take her assignment at the El Campo Middle School Monday, Oct. 15, after she finishes school resource officer training Oct. 8-12, Elliott said.

The chief said both officers have been to observe how the school re- source officer program works at the Victoria Independent School District.

"That's the one we're going to model our program after," Elliott said, noting ECHS Principal Rich DuBroc was familiar with VISD's program.

Both officers also have taken instructor's training, and are now licensed by the state as police instructors.

"The reason is, part of their duties is to make classroom presentations" on laws, policies and so forth, Elliott said.

Until the new Ford Expeditions they'll be driving arrive, the officers will drive regular police patrol units that are not being driven at the moment, Elliott said. The city and school district signed an agreement last month to put two officers at the disposal of the district during school hours.

ECISD Superintendent Mark Pool said in the mornings, the officers will monitor parking lots and students arriving on campus.

"The big thing is being highly visible," Pool said.

Their duties include any "issue at school that's an actual violation of the law, from profanity and fighting all the way to drugs and alcohol - anything that violates the law."

More importantly, Pool said, the officers are present to be good examples and develop personal relationships with the students.

"That's why we also want them on the elementary campus," Pool said. "That's a proactive thing, to make sure the children know police officers are our friends, that they're not the 'bad guys,' that they can be trusted. It's good for our schools, and it's good for the police department, too."