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CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 26, 2003 School resource officer Richard Renfro jokes with South Medford High School senior Katie Kaufman during a student activity break. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven There’s a new cop on campus By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune The morning bell hasn’t stopped ringing at South Medford High School and already Richard Renfro is hard at work on the day’s assignments. There’s an early morning visit to Cottage Street to speak with a female student suspended for head-butting and breaking another girl’s nose. Over at Griffin Creek Elementary, Renfro is working to track down a parent who may be guilty of neglect. Advertisement Then there’s a high school senior who’s just been caught with a marijuana cigarette. As South Medford High School’s newest school resource officer (SRO), Renfro admits that the job is keeping him busier than he ever imagined. But the nine-year officer with Medford police added that he wouldn’t have it any other way. "There’s a lot of stuff we do behind the curtain the people just don’t see," said Renfro. "This is a good school. We don’t have a lot of problems here. Of course, we do have a few challenges." Renfro is the third officer to take the reigns at South in three years. The beat also involves overseeing five elementary schools within the Medford district. Officer Scott Clauson, who patrolled the halls of South last year, was recently assigned to administrative duties following an injury. Clauson had replaced officer Phil Steigleder, South’s former officer who decided to return to patrol duties. Lt. Tim George noted that although Renfro has only been working in the schools for one month, he’s a good fit who will hopefully remain on the job for a long time. "It takes a special officer to pull this off," said George. "Not everybody has the skills to do this." Medford police employ seven officers at area schools. Officer Ernie Whiteman is assigned to North Medford, and Jim Haught works at the district’s two middle schools. Two community service officers patrol, enforce city codes and oversee neighborhood issues at the high schools, and two part-time officers oversee Medford Opportunity, the district’s alternative night school. Joe Ajhar serves as the district’s DARE officer. Medford police have been working in area schools since the early 1990s. While on duty, they’re armed, carry handcuffs and other police equipment and dress in uniform. The school district reimburses the police department for portions of the officer’s salaries, while federal grants help offset the cost. The city picks up the rest. Renfro oversees a school with nearly 2,000 students and staff members. He spends the day patrolling the campus, investigating criminal cases and working as a liaison with social-service agencies on juvenile issues. Renfro also visits with students during his office hours and routinely meets with school staff to deal with problems facing specific students. As the year progresses, Renfro will give classroom presentations. There are a few duties that the officers don’t handle, he added. Those include truancy issues — unless the case becomes extreme — and enforcing school policies and rules. Renfro added that South uses its own staff members to deal with those issues. "We’re not hall monitors or security guards," he said. "We don’t walk around the campus and tell kids to spit out their gum or pick up their trash." Renfro, who recently graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, is also the creator of the department’s Minor Compliance Program. The program partners Medford police with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to stop businesses from selling alcohol to minors. Renfro said he will still continue to operate that program. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times