MHPD School officer transforms office into welcoming “oasis”
Morgan Hill School Resource Officer Mike Nelsen has “raised the bar in community policing,” having recently spent hours of his own time and more than $1,000 of his own money to transform his bland office at Live Oak High School into a log cabin-themed “oasis,” according to a press release from MHPD. The new office offers a more welcoming and comfortable environment for students, parents and teachers than the formerly “outdated” office space with white walls, aged brown cabinets and metal doors that Nelsen spent four weekends of his off-duty time improving, the press release said. The room was being used as storage when Nelsen initially took over the office. “This project demonstrates Officer Nelsen’s dedication to the youth of Morgan Hill and his skills in construction,” Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing said. “However, he is not only a skilled craftsman. He is also skilled at building assets in students that will help them succeed today and later in life.” Nelson, an 29-year MHPD veteran, is serving his third four-year assignment as the City’s School Resource Officer. He is the City’s only full-time SRO, but he is supported by patrol officers who have each “adopted” a school in their assigned beat which they visit regularly, the press release said. “After being a School Resource Officer for 10 years and closely working with staff and students to resolve complex parent/student concerns, I wanted to create an environment that was not only accommodating but comfortable for the needs of all students,” Nelsen said. Nelsen spent his own time “meticulously” crafting the office on the LOHS campus, 1505 E. Main Ave., by hauling in drywall, texture, crown molding, baseboard, cabinets, paint, furniture and other supplies, the MHPD press release said. “Everyone has a gift,” added MHPD Capt. Shane Palsgrove. “Officer Nelsen’s gift is his ability to connect with students as a father-like persona by holding them accountable for their actions, all the while maintaining respect, empathy and the human aspect.” The City of Morgan Hill and the Morgan Hill Unified School District renewed their agreement to share the costs of SRO services, assigning Nelsen to Live Oak, Sobrato High School, and other MHUSD sites as needed, according to a City staff report presented at Wednesday’s Council meeting. MHUSD will contribute $90,000 to the cost of providing SRO services for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, according to City staff. MHPD began the practice of patrol officers “adopting” schools within their beat at the beginning of the current school year, Palsgrove added. Each officer who has adopted a school visits that campus as often as they can during the school day, contacting students, eating lunch or participating in after-school activities. “It allows more students to have a positive interaction with law enforcement and to develop a stronger partnership with the youth of our community,” Palsgrove said. More police interaction with Morgan Hill youth - of a positive, proactive variety - is a key aspect of the City’s four-part strategic plan, Palsgrove said. That plan has four long-term outcome goals:- Reduce incidents of crime and traffic collisions- Increase trust and confidence in the police department- Increase feeling of safety- Increase proficiency of staff“Officer Nelsen continues to do his part in increasing the trust and confidence in the police department, and the feeling of safety,” Palsgrove said.
