TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) -- Two new school resources officers are gearing up for the first day of classes at the Tippecanoe School Corporation. News 18 got the chance to meet up with them.
As we previously reported, they were hired by the sheriff's office to serve McCutcheon and Harrison High Schools.
It was made possible by a grant from the Office of Justice Programs.
Deputy Steven Stonerock is assigned to McCutcheon and has 10 years of law enforcement experience.
Deputy Jason Morgan is spending his days at Harrison and he's been in law enforcement for 20 years.
Both look forward to making a difference.
"Having a positive impact," said Stonerock. "A lot of times in law enforcement we deal with the negative side. I'm very, very excited to do some positive things."
"Interacting with kids in general to build trusting respectible relationships to the students and the parents," added Morgan.
Both officers said their jobs are more than just protecting students.
"It may be the only positive connection that someone has with law enforcment," Morgan explained.
"I absolutely think that we can bridge that gap with law enforcement," added Stonerock. "The entire point is for us to humanize the badge and show people that we're here to help them."
Stonerock served in the U.S. Army and Morgan served in the Indiana and Florida National Guards.
Both deputies had safe schools training before starting their new roles.
Stonerock and Morgan join three other SRO's already working in the TSC.