To the editor:

I retired from the Lawrence Public Schools six years ago after a 38-year career in facilities and operations. My job offered me the opportunity to be in any of the schools at any given time. One of the groups of people that I got to know were the school resource officers. I saw the effect of police officers interacting with students, teachers and staff members in a normal nonconfrontational setting. Students got to see a smiling nonthreatening cop on a daily basis. Some students that maybe have been taught to be uncomfortable around police probably benefited the most by seeing police in a nonthreatening setting and realizing that they are just people like anyone else.

Now I read articles in the Journal-World about people, including school board members, objecting to police officers in schools because it may make some students uncomfortable. If some students were uncomfortable around students of another color, would the students of color be removed? If some students were uncomfortable being around students that were lesbian, gay or transgender, would those different kids be removed? Both are ludicrous questions. People don’t get over being uncomfortable by avoiding their fear.

We have been trying to get people to see that a few bad actors of any color or orientation do not represent the whole group. Why would we not treat police with respect too, especially if they are there to maybe save your child’s life?

Lawrence is fortunate to have an excellent police force and I support SROs 100%.

Bryan K. Hunter,

Lawrence