From left, Marquette Police Chief Blake Rieboldt, officer Nate Dawson and detective Doug Heslip are seen addressing the students and staff of Graveraet Elementary School and area residents and the Kaufman Foundation Monday afternoon. During the safe schools presentation, MAPS Superintendent Bill Saunders announced that a second liaison officer will be added to the school district. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

MARQUETTE — In collaboration with the city of Marquette and the Kaufman Foundation, Marquette Area Public Schools announced the addition of a second full-time liaison officer to the school district.

The position will be filled by a detective from the Marquette City Police Department and handle the more investigative issues that may take place within the district while the other liaison officer, currently officer Nate Dawson, will continue handling student education, said Marquette’s Police Chief Blake Rieboldt.

“By taking a detective and uniform officer we’re splitting those responsibilities, which I think is going to be beneficial both to our department and to the school district,” Rieboldt said.

Increased officer presence in schools helps students to form positive relationships with law enforcement, and these relationships are especially important due to the issues facing students today, such as bullying, Rieboldt said.

“That’s just not something that happens overnight. It’s cultivated, and when the kids — they meet the officer in second or third grade — know these officers basically through their whole school career and the relationships that the officers build with these kids at a young age is dividends over that time period,” Rieboldt said. “Sometimes students are more apt to talk to an officer than a teacher. That’s where I feel the plus is.”

While the exact annual salary to come with the new position is yet to be determined, based on the 180-day school year and including benefits, Rieboldt estimates a cost of $40,000. The city, MAPS and the Kaufman Foundation are working together to offset this cost. Rieboldt noted that a position is not being created for this second officer. Instead an officer already employed in the city police department will be assigned to the district, which is composed of around 3,000 students.

“Between the two officers we feel that they’re going to be able to cover our district and provide these services in a better and more appropriate way,” he said.

MAPS Superintendent Bill Saunders said hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in installing door locks, mounting school cameras, bus cameras and advancing other technology to ensure the safety of students, but the most effective form of security has proven to be school liaison officers.

“Technology and all those things are great, but the person that can build relationships, make connections with students, has the ability to forecast and see the issues before they happen, makes that person immeasurable to us as far as adding to the security of the district,” Saunders said.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.