Connecting to the youth of SCV
Deputies Mike Perry, Pete Romo aim to create safe haven for students
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of profiles of the six School Resource Officers that work in schools throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
This year, Deputy Mike Perry began acting as the School Resource Officer for Canyon High School and Sierra Vista Junior High School after holding the same role at Golden Valley High School for nine years.
Perry decided to become Golden Valley’s SRO after hearing about the job from
a colleague five years ago.
“Golden Valley was just starting up, it was in its third year,” said Perry, who has been with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for 25 years. “It was kind of rough at first, but me and Principal Sal Frias got along real well and had a good philosophy of rehabilitation with second chances and third chances… It took a few years for us to get to that point and now the school runs really well.”
As an SRO, Perry tries to be both stern and approachable with students he interacts with.
“Our philosophy is you come to school, this is a safehaven for you to let your guard down, to be normal and try to get an education and do the best you can,” Perry said. “Don’t bring problems into this school and there will be no problem.”
Perry also tells students that he is not there to harass them or “get in their face,” but that he wants them to go to school, behave well in class and come to him with concerns.
“It’s an alternative means of correction; we’re not about hook and book and get on your way,” he said. “We tell the kids that we constantly deal with ‘if you just come to school and try your best you’d be surprised how we’re not in your face.’ We’re only going to be in your face if you’re disrupting the class or causing issues or doing something that’s a criminal act on school grounds.”
In his role, Perry also works to develop a good rapport with school counselors and psychologists, and with students on campus.
“If you have a question or need to talk, our office is always open, we encourage it,” he said.
After nine years as a SRO, Perry said the best part of the job is working with students and helping them reach graduation.
“It’s a good reward, especially when those kids cross the podium at the end,” he said. “At the end all the kids come up to us and want pictures. The good thing is the positive feedback we get.”