CAPE, JACKSON SCHOOL POLICE HOPE THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The relationship between police and doughnuts is highly exaggerated, said 17-year-old Matt Proffer.

"Being a policeman is not about getting doughnuts," said Proffer, who spent a day with Jackson's school resource officer, Rodney Barnes, earlier this month. "There's a lot of paperwork involved."

Barnes could have doughnuts if he wanted since he hasn't had to deal with as much crime as he initially expected. Barnes is more than halfway through his first year patrolling Jackson's high school and junior high. It's something new for the schools, police department and Barnes.

"We have taught DARE and GREAT programs before, but we haven't had an SRO," Barnes said.

The long-standing anti-drug, anti-gang programs are good, but Jackson Police Chief Marvin Sides said he decided more direct contact was needed. One officer meeting with students and administrators on a day-to-day basis offers more consistency, he said.

For Cpl. Rob Barker, first-year school resource officer in Cape Girardeau, expectations have turned out differently.

"I've been more busy than I thought I'd be," said Barker, who works mainly with elementary schools from his base at L.J. Schultz School. "I expected about three-fourths of the calls that I've handled."

Children in the sixth-and-lower grades have caused more trouble than anticipated, said Barker, whose wife is an elementary schoolteacher. Barker had written 60 referrals through December for behavior ranging from peace disturbance to harassment to assault.

Overall, Barker said he has a good rapport with the children. Some children have approached Barker to tell him about incidents such as fights occurring off school grounds.

Barnes thought Jackson high school and junior high students would be apprehensive of him, but they haven't. Part of that follows from Barnes' practice of seeing and being seen.

"I like to be visible," he said. "Especially during lunch."

Barnes starts his day in the principals' offices. Dennis Pariah at the junior high and Rick McClard, principal of Jackson High School, discuss events and personalities at their schools with the officer.

After meeting with the principals, McClard mingles with the students. Then he heads to his office.

The rest of the work day involves walking around the schools, and at about 2 p.m. going to help with bus duty at the junior high, Barnes said.

Barnes is satisfied with the difference he is making so far. Fewer fights have occurred this year compared to last.

Students aren't afraid to approach him. Barnes offers help with book reports and answers questions about the law and its limits.

"This is good, because kids usually only see police during traffic stops," he said.

Proffer spent a full school day with Barnes in early February. The 17 year-old could see himself in law enforcement some day after a stint with the Marine Corps.

He was surprised at the amount of paperwork. "Accident reports take forever," Proffer said.

Barnes has tried to educate teen-agers outside of school. In October he took a group of 30 to Criminal Justice Day, a law enforcement career fair at Southeast Missouri State University.

The officer, who has been with Jackson police four years, is still trying to decide what shape his work in the schools should take. The possibilities are numerous, he said.

At least one group that hasn't received Barnes well are former students who have dropped out of school but like to hang around. "I have made it clear to them that they don't need to come back," Barnes said.

The "smokers" don't like Barnes either, Proffer said. "They hang out at the top of the hill, in the Baptist parking lot," Proffer said. "They see him as a threat."

The future Marine believes other groups see Barnes more positively. "It's like he's there for our protection," he said.