In a time when cops are scrutinized more than ever, and most headlines involving the police are reporting where things went wrong, two Manhattan police officers are doing their best to exemplify what community policing should be about.<\/p>\n
Officers Shannon Beauchamp and Rob Bernardy are regularly seen around town, on patrol, and at special events, like Cop on a Rooftop, National Night Out, Touch-a-Truck, and their extra assignment as student resource officers (SROs).<\/p>\n
They make a point to be involved, getting to know the residents, kids and adults alike. It also takes away the fear of the unknown \u2014 removing a scary anonymity and replacing it with a friendly, familiar face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get out of the car, throw the football. That\u2019s how you get to know your community, and they get to know you. They feel calm and comfortable talking to you,\u201d Beauchamp explained.<\/p>\n
Throughout the school week, Beauchamp (aka \u201cOfficer Shannon\u201d) and Bernardy (aka \u201cOfficer MOE\u201d) visit the five schools in Manhattan during their six-hour school days: Wilson Creek, Anna McDonald, Manhattan Intermediate, Manhattan Junior High, and St. Joseph. There isn\u2019t a set schedule for when they visit the schools, which is intentional for safety, but it\u2019s still a major part of their day, even though it\u2019s an extra assignment.<\/p>\n
Beauchamp serves as the police department\u2019s evidence custodian and a field training officer. Similarly, Bernardy also has other duties, and they both work patrol, conducting traffic stops, and responding to emergency calls.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about these kids and letting them know that not only are we going to come running when they need us, we\u2019re going to be there, not just when it\u2019s the worst day, when it\u2019s just a bad day, but the great moments, too,\u201d Bernardy said.<\/p>\n
Bernardy and Beauchamp\u2019s reasons for wanting to be cops are similar. The care they show to others is authentic \u2014 a type of care they each experienced as kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came from a wonderful family, but my best friend didn\u2019t have that luxury. I got to see firsthand how he was able to help her,\u201d Beauchamp explained of the police officer who inspired her to follow the same career path. The officer was a \u201cwholesome\u201d source of support, even helping her best friend through the emancipation process.<\/p>\n
Bernardy could\u2019ve been the best friend in Beauchamp\u2019s story.<\/p>\n
He was on his own at 14, and his best friend\u2019s family often took him in \u2014\u00a0 the dad was the deputy police chief where they grew up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe cared about our community, he cared about us \u2014 he cared about me,\u201d Bernardy said. It was that role model who inspired him to make better decisions and ultimately become an officer.<\/p>\n
Today, they\u2019ve each become what they and other kids needed. The pride they have in making connections in their community is palpable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing feeling. You get a rush. Some people get that from kicking down doors and getting the bad guy, but it\u2019s even better when you get to be involved and see your community grow in front of your eyes,\u201d Beauchamp said.<\/p>\n
Bernardy was brimming with pride when he talked about the kids who asked him to sign their yearbooks, kids who wanted to take a picture with him before they were out of school for the summer. It let him know he made a difference.<\/p>\n
While an SRO enhances school security by deterring crime and violence, Bernardy and Beauchamp make the effort to do so by building relationships with teachers and students.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a \u2018We Thing!\u2019\u201d says Bernardy. He\u2019s got a big personality, a bigger voice, and several catchphrases that seem to resonate with the kids, like \u201cWhat up, MOE!\u201d or \u201cOfficer MOE,\u201d an inspirational acronym that stands for \u201cMotivated to Overcome and Execute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cybersafety is a big topic, and Bernardy said he was asked to do a presentation at the school, which he did, but only about 15 parents showed up.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, we were dealing with a lot of social media issues. I don\u2019t think parents were well aware of all the different things going on. You see kids eight-to-nine years old having Snapchat, and parents aren\u2019t monitoring their digital media,\u201d Bernardy said, underscoring the severity of the problem.<\/p>\n
In his free time, Bernardy had experimented with podcasting and had all the equipment. He decided to bring his equipment to the school and make the cyber safety presentation format accessible \u2014 connect with more people in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started doing [videos] and got good feedback, 100-150 views, which I thought was awesome,\u201d Bernardy said.<\/p>\n
His videos, shared online on the school district\u2019s social media, are titled, \u201cIt\u2019s a We Thing Wednesday,\u201d and cover topics pertinent to all: parents, kids, school district administration and teachers, the fire district, and the police department.<\/p>\n
Bernardy didn\u2019t stop there \u2014\u00a0 he decided to see if the kids were interested in doing a podcast together. After all, to him it is very much a \u201cwe thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the help of Manhattan School District\u2019s Library Media Specialist Michele Hallihan, who also heads the media club, they were able to get a group of kids enthusiastic about participating in the podcast and bring the idea to fruition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI help them with the editing, make suggestions, help with software, but I really want them to do it. It\u2019s tempting to want to make it polished, but I really feel like it has to be the kids doing it. I\u2019m just here to facilitate that, to make sure they make their deadlines, all that good stuff,\u201d Hallihan explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great partnership and a great avenue for kids to create something authentic. They\u2019re very excited to have a real audience for their work,\u201d Hallihan added.<\/p>\n
And so, Bernardy is now doing a monthly, potentially bimonthly, podcast with the kids, talking about topics that matter to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re reinforcing all the things they\u2019re hearing from mom and dad and giving that different perspective from the law enforcement side,\u201d Beauchamp added.<\/p>\n
Beauchamp interacts with the kids in her own way, talking with them while jumping rope, playing hopscotch, and running races on the playground at recess \u2014 all in full gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re like, \u2018Why are you here?\u2019 and you get to start that conversation,\u201d Beauchamp explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here because I care. You can always call me. You need me, call 911, and I will be here. I don\u2019t want you to be afraid when you see me in my uniform,\u201d Beauchamp said of what she tells the kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they call 911, it\u2019s because something bad happened, and you want them to know that it\u2019s ok, you\u2019re here to protect them. And you\u2019re there to solve whatever issue they might have, even if it\u2019s just getting the dodgeball or if something bad happens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to show them that if I take off my vest, we\u2019re the same. My heart beats the same way yours does,\u201d Beauchamp said.<\/p>\n
Beauchamp and Bernardy hope the SRO position can eventually become a dedicated position, but for now, they\u2019re pleased with the impact they\u2019re making.<\/p>\n
They attribute the SRO program\u2019s success to the support they get from Police Chief Ryan Gulli and the Manhattan School District.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Gulli] is phenomenal \u2014 he\u2019s behind you all the way. It\u2019s wonderful to work for someone who remembers what it\u2019s like to be on the street,\u201d Beauchamp says of Gulli\u2019s command, adding the school district is \u201cincredible\u201d with their support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gratitude I have for the platform, for the district itself, for the superintendent, for the chief of police, that can\u2019t go unnoticed. Someone has to believe in the project without knowing what it is, believe in the kids, in me, to run with that,\u201d Bernardy said, showing that it really is a \u201cwe thing,\u201d after all.<\/p>\n
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