School Resource Officers, or SROs, have been implemented in schools all across the nation for almost 70 years now. Utilized after unfortunate events such as Columbine or violence among college campuses, these officers are meant to be an intermediary between local law enforcement and the administrators who run the school.
Starting in 2018, Joshua ISD has their very own police department that is separate from the city police force. The police officers within the department are commissioned by JISD to serve the district and its campuses. All of these officers come together to form a department that serves only JISD campuses. Those who are resource officers for the district are all fully trained police officers who work in a school setting rather than locally. Their job is to provide and maintain a safe environment for both students and staff members.
The role of being an SRO within a high school setting has become an unpredictable job within the last 10 years. A rise in anti-police sentiment has taken full force within a large number of teenagers and young adults. For some students, the sight of an SRO might even bring discomfort or fear. But, the newest officer on campus is changing negative stereotypes about having law enforcement roaming the halls.
Officer Zachary Hoffman is the newest SRO within the district. Working at the high school level is no easy assignment for a police officer. In a world where sometimes law enforcement is seen as a threat, enemy, or unsettling, Hoffman has a different outlook on how to do his job.
“So when I was in high school, I worked for a movie theater, and this movie theater had police officers that would work there on the side. I became friends, and I got to know one of these police officers. At that time I did not know what I wanted to do outside of high school. I was just kind of aimlessly wandering around.” Hoffman said. “After developing this friendship with this officer, he invited me to come do a ride along. I showed up one Saturday night, and I had an absolute blast. Of course, it’s super fun to drive fast with lights and sirens. One thing that really hit me was the ability to be in a position where you can make a positive difference in somebody else’s life.”
Before his ride along, Hoffman had experiences that led him into a field where he wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. During his summer breaks throughout high school, he worked as a poolside life guard.
“Being able to help people was always something that stuck with me early on in the first few jobs that I had. I was a lifeguard for about four summer seasons, and being able to jump in after somebody who was struggling and to rescue them is such a rewarding feeling. That just translated over to what I do now. If somebody needs help, they call, and I’m there to help them in any way I can,” Hoffman said
After that, Hoffman initially started his career in the Corsicana region. After his first couple years as an officer, his best friend convinced him to join and become a part of the police force in Venus. This led him to working in and getting to know Johnson County.
“I put in my application for Venus and they accepted me. I started and that just kind of led me to knowing Johnson County. From there, I developed relationships and I started to network with a lot of people,” Hoffman said. “My boss here, Chief Novian, was the police chief for Maypearl. Through some interagency workings there, we connected, and, eventually, when he came over here to the school district, he kept trying to recruit me to come work for the district”
Eventually, Hoffman gave in and told Chief Novian he would put in an application. He got accepted to come work for JISD and started working on campus just after Thanksgiving break of last year. Hoffman was hesitant at first to come work for a school district rather than being in on the action, but nevertheless has enjoyed the experience. He has found there is potential in working with mostly youth within a school district setting.
“I was hesitant at first, but I’ve heard such great things about being in this role as a school officer, so I just had to give it a try. I’m really fortunate for that opportunity, because this is where it really matters. Being able to help shape the lives of youth people that are about to enter the free world, and being able to maybe change perspectives of law enforcement officers,” Hoffman said.
Often, the authority of officers are harshly undermined and disrespected by high school students, especially when they see an officer who looks like he could pass as one of their own. But, Hoffman has tried to keep his own positive perspective in order to make a hopeful difference among youth.
“They’re surprised usually by how young I look, but I never really have an issue with it. And imagine I look as young as I do now, so six years ago when I started this career, I looked very young. You can imagine people probably don’t want to follow instructions from somebody that looks like they’re still in high school,” Hoffman said. “But, it’s all on how you talk with people. Like, communicating with somebody as a person and being respectful will get you far — further than simply demanding.”
Outside of his career and keeping JISD campuses safe, Hoffman enjoys living a normal life just like any student or staff member has when they go home. His enjoyment of video games and sports has led him to believe he can stay in tune with students and keep things in common with both his adult coworkers and the students he interacts with.
“I enjoy basketball and hockey, so that includes the NBA and the National Hockey League. Those are some of my favorite sports. I like video games and I have a strong interest in computer programming. Those are some things that I have some skills and traits that I picked up since I was 12 years old. Also, my relationship with God is another big thing. So maintaining a strong relationship with God, having my interests at home and enjoying some sports are all big for me,” Hoffman said.
Every school resource officer plays a large role within all campuses in our district. Officer Hoffman is no exception to that. He has played a large part in ensuring safety, creating and maintaining human connection, and being a model example of JISD excellence.
“A lot of events have transpired in the world over the past decade. And some of it’s been negative. I ask myself ‘what can I do in the school system to say, “Hey, you know, I’m an officer, I’m a human being just like you. I’m not a robot. How can I help you? How can I help you reach your goals?’” Hoffman said, “So, for me, negativity has never been a struggle because I enjoy just communicating with people, trying to make a positive difference for them, and treating them like the human that they are.”
