A man who's become a fixture in Airdrie schools over the past four years was recognized for a job well done this week at the Rocky View School Board meeting.

Constable Morley Statchuk received a gift and the thanks of the division as he prepares to take a similar position with the Olds RCMP.  RVS said that during his tenure as School Resource Officer in Airdrie Statchuk took a proactive community approach to policing which contributed to RVS classrooms on a daily basis.

Through structured staff professional learning presentations or detachment participation in practice drills, Statchuk helped students better understand their role in an emergency and improve their response.  He did so while communicating, without words, that schools are safe places to learn.

Statchuk says helping the detachment develop, what he calls, their safe plan, was a big part of his role in schools.  "So that would be developing information from each school in the event that, if there ever was an emergency or some high-risk situation at a school that we would be able to have information on how to respond to that school."

However, just as important as that part of his role, Statchuk said it was all about developing relationships with people in the schools.  "Just developing that relationship with staff and students that we can come in and we can talk.  As a police officer, it's not always enforcement but it's being there to provide information and some more accurate information than what could be found on the internet."

Statchuk talked about the internet as he feels students now have the world in their hands and can now access any subject on the internet.  The fact of the matter is that not all of the information is accurate or beneficial.

Statchuk said he thinks the relationships he developed in his four years are the greatest legacy he could leave.  "Walking in there and just being approachable, smiling and just being positive for them, knowing that if they did make a mistake we could sit down and discuss what was going on, what were they thinking, what happened and when they reflect back on that, how can they move forward and prevent those incidents from reoccurring."

According to RVS, it's well know that Statchuk frequently made deposits in "students emotional bank accounts," as evidenced by his one-on-one approach to talking with youth about how they could make better choices in the future, only to arrive days later with a coupon for a Froster in recognition of a change in behaviour,

Statchuck said Airdrie is a wonderful community which he is going to miss.  "The staff at all the schools and the youth.  I always say I've got the best job in the RCMP being proactive and interacting with students, staff, parents and the community as a whole.  I'm going to miss the relationships I've built throughout the four years."

While the school community in Olds is much smaller than Airdrie, six schools compared to 26 in the city, Statchuk's new position is also going to include more of a role in the community.  He'll be working with seniors to help them to not fall victim to phone scams and fraud.

Constable Jason Sherbo will be taking over from Statchuk in the position of Airdrie School Resource Officer.  

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