More than a job: MCHS school resource officer
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LEWISTOWN -- For the majority of the staff across the Mifflin County School District, making lasting connections with students is more important than the job itself. Some of our most important figures often go unnoticed, but Officer Bryce Greene's daily presence at Mifflin County High School makes a true impact.
Officer Greene has only been a school resource officer (SRO) at MCHS for one year, but prior to this role, he was a patrol officer for seven years. He spends the bulk of his day working with school administrators, contacting parents and investigating incidents.
"However, not everything I do involves law enforcement," he said. "Sometimes it's simply having conversations with students, checking in on them, or being someone they can come to when they need help."
To make a positive difference in the lives of younger people, Greene chose to become an SRO. He hopes to "make a positive impact on students before they make decisions that could affect their future." This way he is able to combine his two passions: working with kids and law enforcement.
Through Greene's past experiences handling situations such as domestic disputes, assaults and other emergencies, he has learned how to remain calm under pressure, communicate in difficult situations and make quick decisions when necessary. He acknowledges several benefits of having been a patrol officer, remembering that "communication can often prevent a situation from escalating." This lesson has been the most beneficial. His training and background knowledge also helps him to recognize potential safety concerns.
Greene also notes that, while enforcement action can sometimes be necessary, students are still learning from their mistakes and this position allows for learning opportunities. The right balance between being a source of authority and being an approachable figure when students need to talk is a challenge of being an SRO.
"Having an officer present during the school day is reassuring and has a positive effect on our students and staff," Assistant Principal, Joseph Daubert, said.
Daubert acknowledges that having an officer present at MCHS is beneficial when conflicts arise because Greene is readily available. Without an officer present, precious time would be lost and a conflict could escalate before an outside officer could arrive.
Officer Greene believes that having the ability to build relationships and trust with students is the most rewarding part of being an SRO. Greene's efforts to make our school a safe environment leave a lasting impression on MCHS students. We are appreciative of the daily efforts of Officer Greene and all our SRO's across the district.