Santa Ana School Resource Officer Gets Top Title in State for Excellence in Policing and Safety Services

SANTA ANA, CA – June 8, 2011 – Century High School Police Resource Officer Jaime Randall has been selected as the California School Resource Officer’s Association 2010-11 School Resource Officer of the Year. Dr. Arthur Cummins, Board member for the California School Resource Officer’s Association, and Dr. Cathie Olsky, Deputy Superintendent for the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), jointly announced the award to Officer Randall for her excellence in school based policing and safety during a ceremony at the School Police Department’s Roll Call on June 8. Officer Randall will be formally recognized by the California School Resource Officer’s Association on August 5, 2011 in Montebello.

Having earned two gold medals for downhill and cross-country mountain biking, Officer Randall serves as the training instructor for the School Police Department’s newly implemented district safety officer “Bicycle Patrol Program.” The program was implemented in the fall of 2010 to enhance SAUSD’s security and policing efforts. The program gives the department greater flexibility to perform functions with a greater reach, and doubles as a fitness vehicle for employees as well.

School Police Chief David Valentin said, “Among the many exceptional officers within the department and School Resource Officers throughout California, Officer Randall has demonstrated an unyielding level of commitment to the Santa Ana School Police Department’s mission of public safety. Her efforts are best illustrated by the many proactive investigations she has led while building meaningful relationships with members of our school community and the greater Santa Ana community.”

Officer Randall collaborates with students, parents, schools administrators and neighboring law enforcement agencies to create a safer school environment at the Century High campus and the surrounding Santa Ana community. She also mentors fellow officers to aid them in their development. To her credit, Officer Randall has proactively investigated a number of incidents. For example, she collaborated with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to acquire surveillance to apprehend a suspect who had molested a student on public transportation; counseled a student and uncovered the source and resolution of the student’s substance abuse problems, quite possibly preventing a suicide; and discovered and detained a suspect of stolen school radios. Officer Randall was also recognized by the Santa Ana Police Department Gang Homicide Unit and community members alike for her critical role in solving a multiple victim gang-related attempt murder and the recovery of several handguns.

“This is a very big honor for Jaime and a tribute to everyone in police services,” said Dr. Olsky. “She is but one fine example of the high caliber of officers on our force who work to keep our students, staff, campuses and school community safe.” To that end, the Santa Ana School Police Department was also selected to receive the 2011 Exemplary School Safety Program Award for leadership in organizational transformation by the School Safety Advocacy Council to be presented at the 2011 National School Safety Conference.

For more information about the Santa Ana School Police Department, click here.

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