News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
This June, Sheriff's Deputy Scott Shelton will share some of the bittersweet feelings of the students he has worked with over the past four years as Sisters' School Resource Deputy.
Shelton, like the graduating seniors, is moving on -- excited about the future but knowing he will miss the relationships he's established in Sisters schools.
Shelton is taking a position as a Criminal Intelligence Officer in a newly forming Deschutes County Sheriff's Office squad devoted to special investigations, criminal activity patterning and computer forensics.
The deputy is leaving one year before his mandatory rotation out of the School Resource Deputy role.
"I wanted to chart my own course," Shelton said.
His departure marks no dissatisfaction with the work in the schools.
"I'm going to miss being here immensely," Shelton said. "For me, in a 17-year law enforcement career, this has been one of the most rewarding, moving and inspirational things I've ever done."
Shelton is the first and only School Resource Deputy to work in Sisters schools.
The program started as an effort to head off youth crime and drug use through a deeper involvement with students.
By being on-site and developing relationships, law enforcement is better able to identify developing problems and take action.
The program became an integral part of the regional Safe Schools Alliance and has grown in importance in the wake of a spate of school shootings over the past decade.
The position of School Resource Deputy has gained greater esteem both among educators and within the law enforcement community. Communication between "two very, very important disciplines" has improved, Shelton believes.
While Shelton acknowledges that some "don't see my job as necessary and valuable," the majority of both students and staff feel safer at school -- and they are more willing to interact with law enforcement.
Shelton has cultivated that kind of relationship and has seen a positive impact among some troubled students and families.
"To watch them develop and grow is really neat," he said.
That kind of positive result is a special thing to a cop. It's not something most police officers see a lot of, working as they often do on the negative side of life.
"These students and young people are very positive," Shelton said. "They have a great outlook on life, for the most part, and that tends to rub off on you."
That's also true of the Sisters school staff, according to the deputy.
He saluted everyone from teachers and administrators to custodial staff for their professionalism and interest in helping youth.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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