11-YEAR POLICE VETERAN NAMED OFFICER AT SCHOOLS

Police Cpl. Barry Hovis understands his role as Cape Girardeau's first school resource officer to be that of a teacher, a role model and, in some instances, a friend to the students.

But those aren't his only duties.

"First and foremost, I'm a police officer," Hovis said. "While it is not my intent to sit around and stare at the kids, a part of my job will be to watch out for trouble."

Hovis is quick to add that he doesn't want to come across as hard-nosed and that he hopes that most of his duties don't revolve around handling student crime.

"I'm hoping to spread a positive influence," Hovis said. "A lot of students might be concerned that a police officer is coming into their school, but I'm there to help them relate to us and see that we're not the bad guys."

Beginning with the next school year in August 1997, Hovis will be assigned on a full-time basis to Central High School and Central Junior High.

As the school officer, Hovis will be involved in conducting classroom presentations, coordinating group discussions with students in areas of mutual concern, patrolling school premises and surrounding areas to reduce criminal activities and loitering and stimulating student involvement in crime prevention programs.

Another purpose of the school resource officer is to assign a specially trained officer to the schools to provide students, parents, faculty and law enforcement officers an opportunity to become better acquainted.

Organizers of the program hope that will result in establishing mutual respect between students and police.

In February, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted to accept a federal grant to help the school district fund the project.

The COPS Universal Hiring Grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. It was requested by the Cape Girardeau Police Department in 1995.

The grant and the school district provided money to hire one police officer, which will free up Hovis to become the school resource officer.

The school board approved the program as part of the district's master plan last October.

Superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools, Dr. Dan Tallent, said he is excited about the program.

"This is a significant event in that we will be able to support the development of a better relationship between students, community, school, and law enforcement," he said.

"It's a great opportunity to develop a strong relationship with students as well as school teachers and administrators," said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel, one of the primary initiators of the program.

"I am confident Cpl. Hovis' background, education, and tremendous people skills will make him a welcome addition to our school campus," Hetzel said.

Hovis is an 11-year veteran of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and is the president of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. He has been involved in the implementation of several youth activities in the past.