Sometimes, when a student within the Waunakee school district is dealing with an issue, they turn to Officer Tanner Weber rather than a school counselor.
That’s fine with Tanner, the district’s School Resource Officer said, as one of his main goals is to earn students’ trust.
One of two Waunakee SROs, Tanner spoke to the Waunakee Rotary Club at their Aug. 13 meeting.
Weber not only handles student issues, he helps the district with safety protocols overall. Originally from Markesan, where he served as a police officer for a year, Weber holds a master’s degree in criminal justice, and his thesis was on law enforcement actions and school shooting offenders.
“From college, I knew being an SRO was a pretty big goal of mine,” Tanner said.
The Waunakee school district has six buildings and is much larger than Tanner’s alma mater, where his graduating class was 50. Waunakee High School has 1,400 students, he said.
Tanner said he saw the need for a second SRO as he deals with about 200 cases per year. The top incidents stem from alcohol possession or consumption, disturbances, sexual assaults and child abuse.
Investigating these cases is time consuming, and so while Tanner is working on them, having a second SRO to lead programs and be present in the schools, establishing relationships with students is important.
“One of my biggest drives in working as an SRO is building trust with students,” Tanner said. “I want them to have that perception of law enforcement being a good entity, so when they get into the community and become citizens of the village, they know they can come to us.”
Mental health is one the biggest challenges, he said. Asked to elaborate, Tanner said he and school counselors often hear that students feel unsafe in school.
“I really do believe that social media is one of the driving factors,” Tanner said about students’ mental health issues, adding young students now have cell phones and are on social media earlier on.
Tanner talked about school enforcement versus law enforcement. He is familiar with the student handbook and its different policies for students to follow. School enforcement may begin with a bullying complaint for the principal to deal with, but if reaches a certain level, law enforcement may be brought in.
Tanner wears a body camera and said he loves them.
“I think they’re a very good tool,” he added. “It shows what we do and it’s good for citizens to see that.”
Tanner thinks about safety nonstop, he said. The new Waunake Middle School is a large building, and he and the district safety team have worked together to ensure cameras and other measures are in place to keep students safe.
They have a Standard Response Protocol in place used by more than 45,000 school districts around the United States developed by the ”I Love U Guys” Foundation.
The comprehensive response protocol and reunification method was established by Ellen and John-Michael Keyes, whose daughter was killed in a Colorado school shooting. It was named for her last text messages to them. Tanner showed the club a map indicating where the different stations would be for a reunification site.
In addition, all schools have AEDs, along with narcan to use in emergencies.
The district also utilizes the Speak Up/Speak Out tip reporting website that students can use to anonymously report incidents, and Tanner monitors communications that come in.
Overall, Tanner seems to find the day-to-day work satisfying.
“I love this role. I get to hang out with kids,” he said, adding he is there for home football games, events like prom and other sporting events, along with other programs in the community.
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Other news:
The club inducted several new members. Welcome Todd Smrecina, Katie Ujdak and Judy Stucki!
And Veronica Castillo has achieved her blue badge, shedding her “newbie” red badge by participating in service projects, meeting other Rotarians and attending a board meeting.
Wauktoberfest has gotten officially big. The 90 barrels of German beer ordered now need a semi to deliver them, said Ken Pesik, who was informed it is now one of the three largest Wauktoberfest events held Sept. 10-14. Ken says this year, volunteer bartenders are asked to wear white shirts and/or lederhosen or dirndls.
The Rotary Lights committee is beginning to sell ads for the magazine. President Bill Kennedy is asking businesses to step up and buy one and urges fellow members to do the same.
This year's Food for Kids will mark the 5 millionth meal packaged. The Oct. 11 event will be at Dane Manufacturing again, said its founder, Mick Holm.
Coming Up
Sept. 11-14: Wauktoberfest.
Sept. 18: WNC Harvest of Hope Gala with barbecue brisket, live blues and dancing.
Oct. 11: Food for Kids
Nov. 22-Jan. 1: Rotary Lights
Greeters: Aug. 20, Linda Olson and Bernie Kennedy; Aug. 27, David Rupp and ??; Sept. 3, Veronica Castillo and Todd Smrcina; Sept. 10, Alex Welk and ??.
To sign up to greet or to find out when you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
