Altoona officer assigned to schools looks to be approachable

Monday, September 14, 2015
Christena T. O'Brien, Leader-Telegram

Altoona - At 6 feet 1 inch tall, Jon Lauscher towers above many of the students in the Altoona school district.

"I like to call it the 'wow factor,' " Altoona police Chief Jesse James said with a chuckle. (He is a few inches taller than Lauscher.)

James is hoping the height of the Altoona school district's new school resource officer is a conversation starter with some students.

For others, Lauscher figures once kids from kindergarten to 12th grade talk to him, "they will see I'm a friendly face and not some big, scary guy."

Lauscher, an investigator with the Altoona Police Department, began his new assignment in the school district Aug. 10. Students reported for the 2015-16 school year Aug. 19.

Lauscher has been dividing his time between the district's schools, introducing himself to classes, walking through the halls and saying hello to students and working with staff to define his role.

"I appreciate the opportunity to be here, and they appreciate it, too," he said during an interview at Altoona High School, where students stopped to talk to him and James.

"I can guarantee if I wasn't in the police chief's position, I'd be in that position," said James, who joined the Altoona Police Department in September 2001. When he was appointed investigator in October 2009, he handled cases involving students and the school district.

Seeing value in assigning an officer to the school system, he approached Superintendent Connie Biedron about reinstating a school resource officer, or SRO, after he assumed command of the city's police and fire departments in October 2013.

"That was a huge priority for me, and it was fortunate they were able to see the importance of it," James said of Biedron and members of the Altoona school board. In August 2014, the board approved a proposal adding an SRO, beginning Jan. 5, and sharing the cost of the position for the nine-month period the officer would be in the school district with the city.

That annual cost is $30,240 for each, according to a memo from Biedron to the board. The City Council also approved the proposal.

"Dedicating an officer to that large segment of the population made sense to us," said Altoona Mayor Jack Blackburn, referring to the students and district staff at all schools, "and with the school district splitting the cost with us, it really is a bargain." 

Biedron agreed.

"Whenever we can expand our partnerships … and extend our resources, that's a benefit to everyone," she said.

Officer Dana Brown filled the SRO position for the last half of the 2014-15 school year, and Lauscher, who expressed an interest in such a position when he interviewed with the department almost two years ago, is taking over for the 2015-16 school year. 

"When Dana was here, I saw a connection between him and the kids," Biedron said. "We're looking forward to expanding that with Jon. We see him as a real positive addition to our team."

In addition to being in the school buildings, Lauscher will attend other events, such as Altoona High School's annual homecoming dance and some of the athletic events, James said.

"Having an officer in the school every day (and at events gives) us an extra set of eyes and ears and hands to help with student issues," said Biedron, noting issues are not necessarily problems. 

James and Lauscher agreed. The student resource officer isn't in the district to provide security, the lawmen said, but Lauscher will step in if necessary. 

He also will be able to provide assistance to fellow officers, said Blackburn, noting that sometimes an  issue in the schools spills out into the community. Having an officer in the district with the knowledge and background of what is going on in the schools will enhance all police work related to that, the mayor said.

Along that vein, Lauscher will be meeting monthly with SROS in the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls school districts.

Once Altoona students get to know Lauscher, James believes they'll be more willing to share information with him about a variety of topics.

"I believe students can help solve crimes, and they have in the past," the chief said. "But, they also might be willing to reach out to (Lauscher) if one of their friends is thinking about suicide."

"I want to be someone the kids can go to," said Lauscher, a father of two.  "I'm here to help them, the staff and the parents."

James, who has two daughters attending Altoona schools, also believes Lauscher's presence at all schools will show the youths and adults that police officers also are people.

"Jon's got a lot of good ideas," James said. "I'm excited to see what he's going to do with them."

Contact: 715-830-5838, christena.obrien@ecpc.com or CTOBrien on Twitter

 Leader-Telegram staff photo by Steve Kinderman

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