New Resource Officer in Winlock

Randy Pennington

The Winlock School District has a new Resource Officer and he is known to most of us. Randy Pennington who retired from the Toledo Police Department answered the call of duty and this time, it's for our kids. Randy has always been an asset in the community, working as a fire commissioner and also as a member of the paramedic team in Winlock for many years. He's a stand up guy that all of us respect!

Randy and his wife Carrie have lived in Winlock forever. He has always been the kind of guy who wants to see our students succeed; now he is making sure they are safe while they are in school.

What exactly is a resource officer, Randy explained it best, he stated, "By definition by the United States Dept of Justice an SRO School Resource Officer is a sworn law enforcement officer responsible for the safety and crime prevention in schools - in this case the Winlock Elementary School."

Randy will be responsible for the students, but his role will be instrumental in helping shape our students, he continued, "My role is to fill two major purposes. First, to protect students, staff and visitors at the school campus. Second, to interphase with the students and let them experience that a police officer is a helper. We are here to be their friend, their helper, someone they can come to if they need help or just want to talk or are troubled. We help when and wherever we can, unlike Hollywood where TV and movies depict the major thing cops do is arrest people. Cops are not someone to be afraid of or one that scares kids or adults." Randy is the police officer who helps and the school district is blessed to have him.

Randy is not one to go into a job blindly, he knows he has to set goals. Randy stated, "My short term goal - get parents, teachers, staff and students to know who I am, recognize me as someone they can come to if they need help or simply have questions about police officers.

My long term goal is to successfully educate students, staff, parents and visitors that positive interaction with students will instill in them that police officers are someone they can turn to for help regardless if it has anything to do with criminal activity or not, simply helping someone carry something from their car, or holding a little ones hand crossing the street is often more important that writing a ticket to someone for speeding." Randy will be visible, he will make sure the bad guys know he is there, he will protect and help our students.

Officer Pennington will be there to help the kids, he continued, "It is a very reasonable expectation that I will do all I can when on duty to facilitate the safety of their child, regardless if that be a real violent or perceived violent person, or just someone that may wander onto the campus lost and confused, or just cross the street. Further expectation is that if their child is simply troubled, having a bad day, or just needs a positive moment, they can come to Officer Randy."

Randy has always been about the community, curious as to how his first day went, he stated, "First day, was wonderful, kids and staff were fantastic, I'm going to have to increase my supply of Junior Officer Badge Stickers, LOL. I have never had so many junior partners. And just a side note as some folks may be concerned about the financial side of this, my police commission is that of a Reserve Officer, it is volunteer, not a paid, position."

Once again, Officer Pennington is giving back to the community where he lives. He has always been about serving Lewis County, even after retirement he is still looking for ways to give back. We need more people like Officer Pennington, those who will provide safety to the students while helping them be more comfortable that the police are here to help. Good job Officer Pennington, I know we all feel safer knowing you are protecting the students and staff.