The Greene County School District is working closer with law enforcement starting this school year.

The School Board agreed at the end of last school year to provide an office area near the front entrance to each building in the district and a parking spot for a marked patrol vehicle so that officers can stop in at random times throughout the school year. Police Chief Mark Clouse sees the opportunity as being a beneficial one for all parties involved.

“It’s kind of a deterrent. People might think, ‘If I’m wanting to do something not good, there’s a chance there’s an officer right inside the door of that school. There’s a little deterrence there. It also gets our officers in the school to start that relationship with the students. And you want to start that relationship with them as young as you can. And it gets to be a strong bond and a strong relationship. And we’re there as a role model.”

Clouse adds, officers can also use the designated office area to fill out report sheets and do other work-related tasks away from the police station.