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Meet School Resource Officer Meng Yang
As the school resource officer at Coon Rapids High School, Meng Yang greets students in the morning as they head to class. Yang likes to wear his 'soft uniform' to school.
"Every day is a different day, just like out there in the regular police world with a patrol officer," Yang said.
In his eight years with the Coon Rapids Police Department, Yang has risen to the rank of detective, and has served as the high school resource officer for the past two years.
"It's not really just the police work,” Yang said. “It's more of you have to wear many hats here, just like being a teacher, being a mentor, a coach, sometimes even a father too."
From his school office, Yang has two computers and two radios to keep in constant contact with the police department and the high school. He has access to all of the school's security cameras.
"There are not many blind spots in this school,” Yang said. “So if there's an incident going on, we will usually catch it."
He often gets invited to speak in classrooms, and there are no questions off the table.
"Usually they ask questions relating to police work, what is it like to be undercover," Yang said.
The SRO program operates under a 'memorandum of understanding' between the City of Coon Rapids and the Anoka-Hennepin School District. It not only provides law enforcement duties, but also works to build positive relationships with youth. Coon Rapids High School Principal John Pena said the SRO program is special.
"So they're not just an officer in our building, they're a community member of our Coon Rapids High School that participates in multiple facets," Pena said.
When school is not in session, Yang sometimes works overtime, back on the streets as a patrol officer. Splitting roles can be a challenge. But Yang said his time at Coon Rapids High School is worth it.
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SOURCE: CTN
