By Deputy SRO Kip Keinle, Triad (IL) High School othing sounds better than the sound When I became an SRO in 2006, I didn’t of Velcro ripping off and the unclip-worry much about school shootings. I knew ping of my gun belt on a Friday after-they occurred but I never thoug ht much noon. A sigh of relief comes across me about it happening at my school. I didn’t have as I think “I made it through another week.” to worry about social media threats of care-When I’m taking off my uniform, my stress less acts and thoughts, that students put on level drops. social media for all to see. Back then, we had From Monday through Friday, my school fights, thefts, and an occasional drug bust. But is constantly on my mind, all day and all now, in the world of social media, everything night. I think about ways I can make my is instant and it is 24/7 for all to see. school safer. I go over scenarios in my mind Social media apps are the biggest stres-of "what if" today is the day my school will sors! The bullying and inappropriate videos have a shooting? How will I handle the situ-students are posting on social media ac-ation? Will I be able to stop the threat be-counts are endless and cause daily con-fore somebody gets hurt or killed? I cringe cerns for SROs. The mental health issues when my work phone rings at night with a are more frequent now than they were familiar number of either the Sheriff’s Of-when I became an SRO, and the kids have fice or one of the school administrators. As changed. Kids are bolder now when it Deputy SRO Kip Keinle with his grandson. I answer, I wonder what was posted on so-comes to the way they talk to their teach-cial media by a student, or what crisis has ers, principals, and SROs. What happened come up that can’t wait until the morning. to the good old days, I often ask myself? These are stresses I didn’t have when I started my career in I come home and my wife sometimes knows not to ask how law enforcement over 23 years ago. As a patrolman, I did my 12-my day went, she can tell by my body language. I talk to other hour shift and went home, not worrying about getting a call from SROs around the area and they are having the same issues that I the Watch Commander about an issue that has come up. My am. The stress builds as the year goes on. It seems to get worse days off were my days off. I knew every day I would handle calls, starting in March and lasts until the end of the school year. I but at the end of my shift and my reports were completed, I was sometimes ask myself why I continue to return to school year done for the day. after year? N 12 SCHOOL SAFETY Fall l 2019