New Partnership Builds Relationships & Enhances Safety
This fall's restructuring of Holland Public Schools opened the
door for the district to expand its partnership with the Holland
Police Department. While the schools and the police have always
worked together, the new design featuring four K‑7 schools allowed
HPS and the HPD to come together and look at new ways to be both
effective and efficient.
The police department has now assigned four specific neighborhood
officers to regularly visit Jefferson, East, West, and Holland
Heights schools. Superintendent Brian Davis applauded the efforts
of Interim Police Chief Matt Messer and Captain Jack Dykstra to
creatively add this important community resource within the
schools.
"The redefinition of the school district's boundaries fits
naturally with those of the four assigned community liaison
officers," said Davis. "It's a logical partnership. The consistent
visibility and presence of the officers will enable students to see
them as trusted and approachable role-models. Because of the
educational programs the officers provide on site, the students and
the officers will get to know each other very well."
The district has been grateful for the student education provided
by HPD officers which has emphasized good citizenship, safety, and
responsible decision‑making. Davis believes the improved
familiarity of the officers with the broader needs of HPS students
and families will help them connect with even more students on a
personal level.
The HPD's top leadership agreed. "This partnership is predicated on
the belief that achieving the goals of our overall public safety
philosophy requires that we develop a broader base in Holland by
expanding our role in the community," Interim Chief Messer
said.
"We view this as an opportunity to get involved directly with young
people," Messer said. "Our involvement in schools includes
supporting our educators as they strive to provide safe and
productive learning environments. We have a fine city and excellent
schools. Building relationships, being pro-active, and being in
schools to assist with law-related issues and safety education is
good for our police department, the community, and most
importantly, our young people themselves."
Along with the benefits of regular contact with students, officers
are also able to foster close working relationships with teachers,
principals, school support staff, and parents.
The community liaison officers helping to make this partnership a
success in the K-7 grades are Joel Serna at West, Ed Streng at
Jefferson, Doug VanderKooy at East and John Weatherwax at Holland
Heights.
Even though this is a new partnership — four officers assigned
respectively to four K-7 schools — the HPD and Holland Public
Schools have a long history of working together. Many officers have
worked in schools before, including Officer Andrea Pinner, now in
her seventh year working full‑time at Holland High. She knows the
value her four colleagues will bring to the school
district.
"The significance of having dedicated officers in specific schools is huge in terms of building relationships, not only with students, but with staff," she said. "Being a part of the normal school day, as well as with after school events, helps us not to be seen as outsiders. Our students need a good education today more than ever. The vast majority of students understand this. We have great kids at Holland High. We want to be there to support what our schools do."
