MANCHESTER – With the new school year comes some new faces and that includes a new resource officer in the school district.
Township Police Chief Robert Dolan recently introduced the school district’s newest school resource officer Keith Craig.
“A past Chief’s Award recipient, Officer Craig is a nine-year veteran of the police department. During that time, he has demonstrated a commitment to this agency, both on and off duty, which is representative of the core values of this police department,” Chief Dolan said.
The chief added that Craig has exemplified “these values throughout his entire career. Officer Craig has organized and coordinated Dinner with Santa, Coffee with a Cop, and the Manchester Youth Police Academy.”
School Resource Officers are required to maintain a close relationship with the school administration, and staff, who provide important feedback as to the concerns of the students and parents. The new SRO will also be a juvenile liaison to the Investigations Bureau and follow up with any investigations involving juveniles.
Craig is no stranger to the Manchester Township School District. He is a lifelong township resident having graduated from Manchester Township High School in 2003. The officer served as a LEAD instructor at the Ridgeway Elementary School and organizes the yearly LEAD graduation.
The new SRO also was influential in the development of the high school opiate awareness program, #NEO (Not Even Once), and has taught the program to hundreds of high school students.
The officer already works closely with school officials as a School Safety team member and attends safety drills and meetings throughout the year.
Craig also serves as the Municipal Alliance Chairman in addition to being the acting liaison between the public and the police department.
Chief Dolan added, “take a moment to congratulate Officer Craig and be sure to say hello to him in the hallways!”
