North Side High School

James Payne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elementary and Middle Schools

Liza Thomas

I moved to Fort Wayne in 1993 after graduating from Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana to live in a larger community and continue my education. I hold a Bachelor's in Management from Tri-State University. In 2000 I applied for and was accepted into the Fort Wayne Police Training Academy for the 53rd recruit class.

In my spare time I love to spend time with my two children. I enjoy simple things, reading, being active and most outdoor activities. I believe in community involvement and getting to know people for who they are.

I have been a Fort Wayne Police Officer since January 2001 and have worked primarily in the Operations Division - uniform patrol. I take pride in serving my community by aiding in maintaining the peace and enforcement of state and local laws. I have worked in various positions within law enforcement including the Public Information Office, Honor Guard, Staff Instructor at the Fort Wayne Police Training Center, Crisis Intervention Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor and Narcotics Division.

In 2007 I became a part of Fort Wayne Community School's security staff as a School Resource Officer and a mobile police officer for Bus Transportation. I focus my efforts in maintaining a liaison between our student community and police officers through teaching, counseling and law enforcement in daily tasks. I thoroughly enjoy working with students and watching them achieve their goals.

I know the School Resource Officer program continues to have the opportunity to be an impact on creating positive relationships with young people within our community and I am proud to be a part of its success.

Northrop High School

Greg Woods

Hi! My name is Officer Greg Woods. I am a police officer for the City of Fort Wayne. I am a Fort Wayne native and a 1992 graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School. After graduating from high school I spent four years serving on active duty with the United States Navy before I decided to pursue a career in Law Enforcement.

I have fourteen years of experience working as a police officer. First, as a Federal Officer in Philadelphia for six years, until my family and I moved back here to Fort Wayne eight years ago. I worked as a street officer on the northeast and southwest sides of the city for five years on third shift before moving on to work as a School Resource Officer.

During my time on the street, I began working at Northrop High School as a part-time security officer where I worked for three years until I was offered the full time position as the School Resource Officer. I enjoy working with the students, staff and administrators and attend most sporting events because I want the students to know how much I support them. I take pride in being a positive role model and providing students with guidance for life during and after high school. I have been the SRO for three years and I am truly glad to be a part of Northrop's support staff.

Snider High School

Chris Crapser

Officer Crapser has been the School resource Officer at Snider High School since 2002. He has been a police officer since 1994, and also has 10 years experience as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. He enjoys educating students and staff about drugs, gangs, and other issues as the need arises.

 

Wayne High School

Rufus Brown

My name is Rufus Brown and I have been a School Resource Officer (SRO) since the program started in the summer of 2000. I started my Law Enforcement career in Moncks Corner, S.C., in 1983 as a way to give back to my community and to try and make a difference in the lives of friends and strangers alike.

After 7 years I began looking for a department that offered more opportunities and greater challenges and that was when I discovered Fort Wayne. I started my career with the Fort Wayne Police Department in 1990 and started working uniform patrol as most every new officer to the department does. Since that time I have worked in the Gang Unit, Vice and Narcotics Division, served 5 years on our Emergency Services Team (EST/SWAT), and became involved as a Dare Instructor in 1997.

It was during this time as a Dare Instructor I was able to impact the lives of youths as I taught them first hand about the dangers involved in gangs, drugs, and violence. I enjoyed the 3 years I spent as a Dare Instructor and when the Fort Wayne Police Department started their School Resource Officer (SRO) program I was excited about the opportunity to stay directly and personally involved in the lives of children and young adults.

Due to the fact I have been an SRO since its beginning I have been blessed with a unique opportunity to watch children in the elementary schools of Abbett, Whitney Young, Weisser Park, South Wayne, Fairfield, and Harrison Hill grow and become middle school students at either Towles or Memorial Park and eventually watch them as they mature into young adults attending South Side High School. While not all the choices our children make are good it is at this critical moment that I have the opportunity to try and be a role model and make a positive influence in their lives.

I work mainly out of South Side High School and talk to several hundred students on a daily basis. It is this interaction that builds the foundation of trust and respect that carries on long after they move on from South Side High. I have talked with and counseled students that have gone on to graduate, become successful men and woman in our community, play professional sports both in soccer and the NFL, some have started their own business, and yet others are starting their own careers. At one time or another most all of them come back and visit with me.

My ultimate goal is obviously the safety of each and every student and staff member that walks through our doors and there is no resource that will not be used to preserve that security. However, the benefit of that personal interaction between myself and the student is what brings me back year after year.

South Side High School

Stacey Jenkins