MONTE VISTA— “I was born and raised in Monte Vista, so I have a heart for the kids and for getting successful adults out in the world,” said newly appointed Resource Officer, David Pino, when asked what made him want the position.

This is the first year that Monte Vista School District is implementing a school resource officer position. In years past, the police department has had a kind of liaison for the school district. An officer would come and spend at least an hour a day in the school district. Now that Pino is the official resource officer he will be at the school full-time throughout the week.

Even though he will be serving as the resource officer, he will still continue his duty as a police officer keeping the streets safe. Especially in instances when the department is short staffed, he will make protecting the streets a priority.

Pino has had some experience with school policing and once worked on Adam’s State campus as school police. As the resource officer for Monte Vista Schools, Pino visits all the schools in the district taking care of various needs. “It’s very rewarding work,” said Pino about his duties as resource officer. “I think this program’s going to have huge dividends to the entire community not just the law enforcement side, but also the school district and ultimately the entire community’s going to reap the benefits of it.”

Pino said there are three parts of his new position and they can be thought of as a sort of triangle.  Number one, at the base of the triangle, is his duty as a law enforcement officer. Next, in the middle, is his role as a mentor and counselor. Finally, at the top, he sometimes has to serve as a guest speaker or teacher.

Sometimes, throughout the district, teachers or school counselors will come to him and ask him if he can talk to a student if they’re having trouble. “The student is not in trouble, but there is a possibility that if his behaviors don’t change it can turn into something criminal,” explained Pino. “If we can fight that before it turns criminal and have a positive interaction with the student that’s going to bridge the gap. It’s going to show them there is consequence and they don’t want to walk down that path, and hopefully we can help them change their direction. Should they not change their path, then that’s when the role of a law enforcement officer takes place and I have to do my job by actually interceding and going to the court systems or division programs or something like that.”

The students’ response to him as the resource officer has been pretty amazing according to Pino. During passing periods, he said he likes to go walk with them and have conversations with the students and get to know them. He already knows some of them by their first names, and his goal is to learn all of the students’ first names in the entire district. “It’s a lot of kids, but if the teachers can do it, I’m sure I can as well,” said Pino.

Of course, Pino will also be there in case of an emergency - like a school shooting. “I hope we never have to deal with that, but if we have too, we’re well trained to handle it,” said Pino. “Our main goal is to have safer schools to make safer kids.”

Pino is hopeful that he will be able to do a lot of good in the school and the community. “In order for that to happen, I have to go make those contacts and make those kids feel like this cop remembered them. Hopefully we can change the course of behavior and ultimately, it’s going to change the community. It really will,” stated Pino.