Expanding knowledge on the job
Deputy Natalie Hidalgo hopes to motivate students in a positive way with new role
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of six profiles of the six School Resource Officers that work in schools throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
Deputy Natalie Hidalgo is Santa Clarita’s newest School Resource Officer as she began her role at Golden Valley High School, La Mesa Junior High School and Sequoia School in September.
During her six years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Hidalgo has worked in several different areas of the department including field work, counter work, identity theft reports, patrol, dispatch and calls.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve worked different parts
of the department or the station,” Hidalgo said. “This [acting as a SRO] will just expand my knowledge on juveniles now which will be great.”
Hidalgo first became interested in the position when a deputy approached her about the opening and asked her if she wanted to apply.
“Of course I’m going to jump on any new opportunity so I can try something different and have a different experience so I applied for it and got it,” she said. “I’ve worked with the Explorer Program and, in general, the youth is something I’ve always wanted to work with.”
Before she began her
new role as SRO, Hidalgo sought advice from the area’s other five SRO deputies.
“All of them have helped me out and been so great with this,” Hidalgo said. “The deputies all gave me their two cents on what to do and not to do.”
During her first week on the job, Hidalgo made herself available to the students and interacted with each school’s administration so she could familiarize herself on each campus.
“It’s been great. Everyone’s been totally nice and open, and the kids come up to me which is awesome,” she said. “I’m trying to throw myself out there as much as possible and making sure I’m approachable, if anyone wants to talk to me I’m
available to talk to.”
As an SRO, Hidalgo hopes to spend time at each of the schools every day and motivate students in a positive way.
“Hopefully [I can] be a lending hand and helping kids who have trouble, that’s what I’ve been doing so far with the kids,” she said. “If you have any problems come up to me and we can try to resolve them.”
Hidalgo is also from the area, having attended Valencia High School, College of the Canyons and CalState LA where she earned her bachelor’s in political science.
“I’ve always taken interest in law and got a BA in political science. I love law, it came easy for me to understand,” she said. “I’m going for my master’s right now in criminal justice.”