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By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer
AMBER TOWNSHIP — Over the past few months I have written articles on ships, tugs/barges, and ship yard items. Even riding with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit as well, but that still entailed things with boats. Recently my editor asked if I would work on a series of articles on School Resource Officers. Since most of them in our area have something to do with the Sheriff’s Office and I did have an affiliation with them for many years, I thought ‘oh why not’. This is me veering off my path onto a different one.
Most of us, when we think of the School Resource Officers, (SRO’s) normally think in terms of them being there for active shooter or situations where students, teachers or visitors may be put at risk. While that may be the most extreme part of their job there are so many things that go into their jobs well below that threshold. We perceive them to be the first line of defense against any aggressive act against their schools they are responsible for, but also to investigate violations of criminal law, serve as a role model and perhaps even mentor students as they can.
Starting out my series I went to the West Shore Educational Service District on US 10-31 in Amber Township. The WSESD services Mason, Oceana and Lake counties. I arrived there and met up with Sgt. Adam Lamb. Lamb has his office at the WSESD but also supervises three other officers, deputies David Barnett (Ludington Area School District’s Ludington Elementary School), Luke Postma (Mason County Central School District) and Jake Lesinski (Mason County Eastern School District). Additionally, Ludington Police Department has a school resource officer, Conor Gallihugh, assigned to the Ludington High School and OJ DeJonge Middle School complex located within the City of Ludington.
Lamb is a local guy, born and raised in Pentwater. After graduating from Pentwater High School in 2000, he then went on to the West Shore Community College Police Academy receiving an associate degree in criminal justice in 2002. Following that he served with the Pentwater Police Department, Montague Police Department and Fruitport Township Police Department before joining the Mason County Sheriff’s Office in 2005.
This was in the time period I had a chance to interact with Lamb when I was in one of the roles I filled at that office at one time or another. By the way I am like a bad penny I do keep showing up at that office.
During his time at the MCSO, he has served in many roles including road patrol deputy, road patrol supervisor, marine patrol supervisor, accident re-constructionist, SWAT team member and dive team member (now leader).
Lamb has a long history of law enforcement in his family. Both his grandfathers were police officers. His grandpa Lamb was police chief in Pentwater for 31 years. His grandpa Wilson also was at that department and he would sit in his patrol car to watch baseball games.
“I thought I was the coolest kid in school,” Lamb said.
Finally, he was asked if he would take on the role of supervisor of the SROs for MCSO.
While an SRO had already been established at Ludington Elementary School in Pere Marquette Township, additional SROs were planned for MCE and MCC.
Lamb and I shared a long conversation on things that the SROs do, their duties and how they interact with the schools. One thing I came to find talking to him and each of the other SROs, is that they speak of their school as family. It is their kids and they want to take care of them and protect them.
Lamb pointed out the various programs the schools and the SROs use to communicate possible problems so that each SRO is aware of what is coming their way. Things like Handle With Care emails that go out between the three counties that have to do with family issues so that the kids can be taken care of and there are no surprises. They try to handle things quietly and assist the students.
“These kids become our kids”, said Lamb. I felt that from him and each of the others I spent time with.
The SROs from all three counties meet once a month and exchange information and thoughts. Some of the programs Lamb holds instructor certificates for include;
ALERRT- Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training
ALICE – Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate
Run Hide Fight
Stop The Bleed
TCCC/TECC – Tactical Combat Casualty Care/Tactical Emergency Casualty Care
TEAM – Teaching Educating and Mentoring
Rescue Task Force
Sgt. Lamb also was arranging for me to meet each SRO under his command at the respective schools they were assigned to.
“Mason County is pretty much on point on school safety, and that really started with Sheriff Cole. It all started with proactive policing.” Each SRO has an Emergency Operation Plan in place for major events such as sporting events so that all emergency services will know how to respond.
Talking with Lamb you could see he cares about the work he does. His knowledge of the job and the needs ran quite deep. One thought he gave me still stuck with me when I left him that day.
“Teachers are the first responders. Law enforcement is second responder. They lock doors, close things up before we get there”. That thought gave me pause for thought. My wife has been a teacher for most of her adult life as a special educator. She still substitutes at this time at some of these very schools that are in the articles I am now writing. That put a personal twist to it. The SROs are there for your kids, your neighbor’s kid, your friends and in this instance my family.
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