Helping Kids Be Kids

As one of two School Resource Officers in Moses Lake, Thomas Tufte has one of the biggest public relations jobs in the city.  Responsible for eight schools, he essentially serves as the face of the police department to those schools’ students and their families.  His duties include visiting classrooms, giving safety presentations, responding to crimes that occur in the schools, talking to students who get in trouble, and training crossing guards.

 
While some officers would find such a diverse, high-profile role daunting, the position is Tufte’s dream job.  “It’s the best job I’ve ever had.  I like teaching kids how to make good choices.  And it’s cool to have elementary school students know your name and say hi to you whenever they see you,” explains Tufte.  “For students who are making poor decisions, I can really help them deal with those issues and figure out how they can move on from them.”

 
Moses Lake’s School Resource Officer positions are unique in Washington State.  Each position is appointed by a committee made up of police officers and school district administrators, but is funded by the Moses Lake School District.  Two police officers are rotated through the positions every 3 years, a large commitment of time and resources for the city’s police department.  Through these positions, connections are fostered between local law enforcement and the public schools.

 
Tufte’s experience as a police officer in the schools has made him a natural candidate for involvement in Moses Lake Safe Routes to School proposals.  Along with the Community Services Officer, he participated in the grant proposal process for Peninsula Elementary School which also involved the Moses Lake Public Works Department, Peninsula’s principal, the Grant County Health Department, and the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force.

 
The successfully funded project began with a walking audit to assess the school’s safety needs and ended with a proposal involving curb extensions, pedestrian safety education, and mailings to traffic offenders about their driving behavior.

 
For Tufte, deciding to be involved in the Safe Routes to School grant proposal process for Peninsula Elementary was not difficult.  He believes a safe community is something children deserve and is passionate about serving his community.  “Why not make it safer if there’s a grant out there?” asks Tufte.  “The community owes it to kids to make their environment safe.  They’re just having fun and thinking about the things kids think about.  And that’s the way it should be.  Someone has to think about safety for them.”

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