Paulding, OH: Kiwanis member George Carter introduced Kameran Clemens, Paulding Schools’ resource officer. Clemens started by saying he didn’t know what to expect when he first stepped into the school. Although he had been trained for the job, would the kids fear him, would they be nervous to come to him with problems, would they feel comfortable communicating with him, or would they overall feel safer knowing he was there to protect them? He says he’s not only a resource officer but a teacher, counselor, and parent figure to kids. They look up to him and he acts as a role model and safe haven for many kids. “In many cases, no one used to want to talk to the police officer, but now they trust me enough to come to me with their problems,” says Clemens. He shared how he’s been able to resolve problems before they arise because students feel comfortable talking with him. Situations like fights have been taken care of before punches are thrown and kids are hurt.
“No one ever thought we’d need something like a resource officer in schools,” says Clemens. Social media has played a role in many school threats, and when a situation arises on social media the police department and school work well together to see if the threat is credible and form a plan to best keep your child safe. All schools in Paulding County have a resource officer that is either from their local police department or provided by the Sherriff’s department. They’re in the classroom, on the playground, and walking the halls each day to make sure your child is safe at school. Clemens mentioned that he walks about 18,000-20,000 steps a day. We thank Kameran for his hard work and willingness to keep the children of our community safe. Kiwanis also thanks all the other officers and deputies who serve as resource officers across the county. We also thank and commend each school for taking the precautions and going the extra distance to make sure our children feel safe at school. Kiwanis members meet next Thursday over lunch.
