Hopewell-Loudon SRO enables close-knit community

BASCOM—Hopewell-Loudon School Resource Officer and Safety Director, Brian Ruckstuhl, has been heavily engaged in the Chieftain community since acquiring the SRO position in June. Ruckstuhl was a deputy for Wood County for 35 years before he decided to take a position as an SRO. He currently has a two-year contract with the district, and has big plans in the meantime. On a daily basis, Ruckstuhl monitors the school and interacts with the students and staff, ensuring a safe and secure learning environment. "It's very welcoming, very warm," Ruckstuhl said of the school. He explained that while he has enjoyed the community-oriented atmosphere of the school, on a serious note he adds a layer of security to the building and helps everyone in the building stay at ease. Ruckstuhl also spends time in the classrooms, where he monitors and completes programs such as a learning game for students to get to know him, as well as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) curriculum. This program was his recommendation, and he said the staff and administration within the school liked the idea since it helps promote good choices. Ruckstuhl noted the students have been very welcoming to his educational assessments, which enables them to build trust and encourages them to stay drug and alcohol-free. "There's a lot of kids that we just don't know what's going on in their world and we think we do, they come to school and they mask it," he explained. "Sometimes I can break through there and I may not be able to handle the situation, but I have different branches that can—through children's services, different networking, school counselors and stuff like that." Through his time being an SRO, Ruckstuhl said he learned that students take to music really well, so he has built his own sound system and brings musical entertainment to the halls of the school. He uses a three-tier cart, and two speakers with a red and blue light bar, and plays music on Fridays for the students in the morning to help set the mood for the day. "In between classes when the bell rings we'll play," he said. "At lunchtime, I play for the whole lunchroom, the kids like that they can make requests, and it just kind of brings a little happy positive." Additionally, Ruckstuhl stays involved with the school events and even finds himself attending a couple of sporting events throughout the week, participating in pep rallies and more. "Most of it is really relationships, and just being here for the kids," he said of the job, noting his favorite part is being around the students, building professional relationships and enjoying the positive energy that the student body brings. "This community just seems to be close-knit and very welcoming," he said. Ruckstuhl said he has many more ideas on staying involved with the school and student body, such as bringing an elementary movie night to the common area of the school, or even hosting a first responder day where local emergency services come to teach about safety and their vehicles. Bringing events like this to the school promotes students to stay off electronics, get out of the house and bond with their classmates, Ruckstuhl said. "It sounds cliche, but they really make me a better person," he said of the students. "They make me want to come to work, they make me want to be here." Ruckstuhl said he appreciates the Hopewell-Loudon community for welcoming him and providing a positive environment. "I think my only regret is that I didn't come here sooner," he said. To stay updated with SRO Safety Director Ruckstuhl's journey, follow his Facebook page: Officer Brian SRO.