Youth Resource Officers In Perth County

(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wishes to introduce some new faces in Perth County’s High Schools as well as some of the elementary schools.

Provincial Constable Bill DeKoning, a long time Youth Resource Officer in the Municipality of North Perth, has now become the new Perth County OPP Community Mobilization officer, leaving an opening for a new Youth Resource Officer.

In other parts of the county, retirements and transfers have left the need for an additional officer to serve as a Youth Resource officer in other Schools.

The two Youth Resource Officer positions are seen as important aspects to policing within our communities and incorporate a mix of policing duties and skills.

The jobs these officers perform are multi-faceted. They respond to calls for service within the Perth County Secondary schools, interact with students, build relationships in advance of crisis within the school, and act as a liaison between schools and the OPP Detachment. They may attend parent meetings to foster communication about youth issues, act as mentors, counselors and provide resources to students having special interests, or to those who are at risk or are experiencing difficulties. They may facilitate student Crime Stoppers programs, or participate in crime prevention projects in the schools. They will also be active as facilitator for investigations within schools.

The two officers who applied and have been chosen to work as Youth Resource Officers are Provincial Constable Kevin Walker and Provincial Constable Julie McLeod. Between the two of them they will be servicing St.Marys DCVI, Mitchell District High School, and Listowel District High School.

Kevin has served the Listowel community for a large part of his career. He is now looking forward to a change from criminal investigations and general patrol, to dealing with youth issues and liaising with local schools.

Julie brings with her many years of varied policing experience. She is excited to be back interacting with youth in school settings as a Youth Resource Officer.

Both Kevin and Julie will also be involved in presenting OPP youth programs in some of the local elementary schools.

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