by Terri Wiebold

Mike Adams, school resource office for Rock Canyon High School

Students at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) are used to seeing an armed police officer on campus every day. Since the school opened four years ago, a uniformed deputy from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has been assigned to the school as the School Resource Officer (SRO). These days, however, there is a “new kid” on campus.

Deputy Mike Adams has been a sworn member of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office since 2003, and took over as the SRO for Rock Canyon High School at the start of the school year on August 14. Adams’ primary function at the school is to maintain safety for the students and staff. “I do a lot more intervention and counseling here than I did working patrol,” said Adams. “My goal is that kids and staff come to school safely, and they go home safely.”

Education in the classrooms is a secondary function Adams serves on the campus. He teaches classes to the students on a variety of topics, including drug education and awareness, bullying and harassment, gangs, and driver safety.

Deputy Adams has an office on the RCHS campus and can usually be found Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. He also spends part of his time at the Rocky Heights Middle School campus.

According to Adams, being physically on campus allows him to build a rapport with the kids. “I want them to know that not every encounter with law enforcement is a negative one,” he said. “They start to trust you, and I like that you can see the long-term impact you have on these kids.”

For more information about the SRO program at Rock Canyon High School, contact Deputy Mike Adams at 303-387-3039 or e-mail the school at www.dcsdk12.org/secondary/rchs.