HELPING Hand
This deputy is a major part of a local school’s food distribution program, providing help to Averill Park students in need
As a school resource officer, Brian Nikles has become a familiar face to many people in Averill
Park.
Even though the school — like all others in the state — has been closed since mid-march, students and parents still get to see Nikles, a deputy sheriff for Rensselaer County.
Nikles is heavily involved in the Averill Park food distribution program, which issues meals at the school to those in need every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each allotment covers breakfast and lunch for two days.
“It brings back some normalcy for the students,” he said. “They’re not in school, but they’re normal again. They’ve got the school lunch. They’re seeing a couple of familiar faces when they’ve come with their families to pick up the lunches.
They get to see that.
“I’m a familiar face. That’s why they asked me to be a part of this distribution. Other folks who work in the food service who are working in the cafeteria every day, these kids see them and they get so excited when they see them. It brings back some normalcy to them.”
His job as a sheriff has enabled him to aid families who can’t get to the school
“I’ve done some home deliveries,” Nikles said. “I’ll bring a meal down to a family. They also do a backpack program. Along with their food service, they are continuing their other programs. They need help delivering to a couple places, so I have no problem, while I’m out doing my job, helping out with that.”
The road trips have included home visits, accompanied by a principal or other school official, to check in on students who have had trouble connecting to their school work or engaging in athome instruction.
“Some of the administrators wanted it,” he said. “It has helped them reach out a little. That’s been rewarding to see the positive outcome from that. There’s a lot of reward for me, and I hope for the admins and the students by doing that.”
Because of the school closure, Nikles is doing more patrol work these days, but he has managed to stay connected with the students and parents he has come to know.
“I got involved in this for the same reason I wanted to be in the school resource officer program,” he said. “It’s all about the community. The school asked me if I’d be willing to help out, and I said absolutely. I love doing it. I’m in the school district 40-plus hours a week, I see the kids, I know the kids. To be able to see them is great. What I’ve noticed, what it’s done for the community, it’s more rewarding for me to come out and do that.
“It’s a tight community out here. Truthfully, I wanted to be the school resource officer because this is the center of our community. I live in the district, I live in the community. This is the best way a county police officer can do community policing.”
He also is assisting school administrators in the planning of some school parades next month.
“We’re in the planning process,” Nikles said. “I’ve been doing a lot of meetings with the school admins. They’re planning the parades. I’m helping them find parade routes. I’m going to be working with my department and the fire departments with traffic control.”
Nikles plans to be involved with the Averill Park graduation “no matter what capacity, I want to be there, no matter how they do it.”