WATERBORO — You’re likely to see him at the football games and annual graduation ceremony, in the halls of the schools and even in the cafeteria, where School Resource Officer Jason Solomon helps serve up lunch to the high school students on a regular basis.
Outside, near Massabesic High School, you might see him in his York County Sheriff’s Office cruiser as school lets out, watching for folks who speed through the school zone. Or you might not see him ”“ because he could be somewhere in the school building, writing out safety plans as a guide for emergencies.
Solomon, a 12-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, and a husband and father of four youngsters, has been the RSU 57 school resource officer since 2010, keeping an eye on safety and on the district’s 3,300 young people.
Late last week, the 1,100-member National Association of School Resource Officers named him School Resource Officer of the Year, a nationwide honor they’ll confer at a convention in Orlando, Fla. next month.
And when Massabesic High School students heard the news Monday morning during a special assembly ”“ well, they hooted and hollered, clapped and cheered.
Late last week, Solomon spoke about the honor and his work in the district schools. While RSU 57 has eight school buildings and 3,300 students, Solomon acknowledged much of his time is spent at the 1,250- student Massabesic High School.
“It’s a community here,” he said.
Solomon, upbeat and gregarious, jokes around with the students, but it’s plain to see he has a serious side, too. Last summer, taking a note, he said, from his counterparts Michael Gordon and Michael “Tipper” Thornton, school resource officers in nearby Sanford, he established Massabesic Cadets, a structured program designed to instill self-esteem and build on core values of honesty, responsibility, courage and discipline.
Some days at school, he wears the uniform, while some days, he’s in plain clothes. The change helps make kids feel comfortable, he said.
“Just because I’m a police officer doesn’t mean I’m not approachable,” said Solomon.
He said he’s interested in hearing from the students, and he’s often their sounding board.
The school resource officer job has led to investigations into criminal behavior, as outlined in Solomon’s nomination for the national award by Bill King, chief deputy of the York County Sheriff’s Office. One such instance resulted in a teacher pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with a student. She is now serving seven years of a 12-year sentence.
In another case, according to King, Solomon became the subject of a series of paperwork claims filed by a family that practiced sovereign citizenry and he handled the situation “with the demeanor befitting a law enforcement officer.”
There have also been lighter moments. Sometimes, Solomon pointed out, instead of seeing him in the cruiser, parked to deter speeders, motorists could be seeing “Gus” behind the wheel, a faux fellow made by an MHS art student whose mere presence has caused drivers to slow down. “Gus” drew the ire of one motorist, however, who called authorities to complain about a deputy “sleeping” in the police car on the school lawn.
The national award was noted by Gov. Paul LePage in a statement issued Monday afternoon.
“Deputy Solomon is a leader and role model for his community, and I offer my congratulations to him on receiving this prestigious award,” said LePage. “School resource officers are very much more than an armed security presence in our schools. Officers, like Deputy Solomon, across Maine are promoting positive relations between youth and law enforcement, which is important for future generations in building stronger, safer communities.”
During Monday’s assembly, York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette remarked that Solomon’s work has brought honor to the agency, the school, county, state and nation.
“He not only keeps you safe, but he gets involved in helping administration and teachers, and helps you grow,” the sheriff said.
MHS Principal Christian Elkington said Solomon took the SRO job “not because the work was easy, but because he knew it would be challenging.”
“In my 18-plus years as a school administrator, I have never worked with a better school resource deputy or officer,” said Elkington.
“We’re very proud of you,” said County Manager Greg Zinser.
King, in addressing the students, perhaps summed it up best: “In your life, you only have a couple of cheerleaders. In Jason Solomon, you have an SRO who truly loves you.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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