MONROE — Although law enforcement is nothing new to Kim Quinn, her position as the first Safety Resource Officer for the School District of Monroe is. 

After spending nearly two decades as a police officer, Quinn became interested in the chance to spend time during the school year at school buildings in the city — and at a district with which the Monroe High School graduate is familiar. 

Early in the year, students would toss around comments like “don’t arrest me” or “I didn’t do it” but those have fallen aside now that they see Quinn nearly every day, walking the halls and chatting with students. 

The silly comments have now been replaced with real interactions, relationships and goals for the future for both the school and local law enforcement. 

“If (students) do have a problem, they’re not afraid to ask me about it,” Quinn said.

Quinn’s career in law enforcement began as a jailer for the Green County Sheriff’s Department before she went to school to become a police officer. She worked patrol for New Glarus before being hired with the Monroe Police Department in 2007. 

Quinn has felt welcomed — both from the district and its students — in part because it’s not the first time she’s had a role there. About five years ago she served as a liaison with the schools, acting as the go-to officer for the district, although she wasn’t there full time. However, according to Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley, due to staffing levels, she was sent back to a regular patrol shift. 

When this position opened, she said she became interested right away.

“I like working with kids,” she said, noting that she has three children of her own and can relate and understand some situations that students and families go through. 

Monroe High School Principal Chris Medenwaldt said Quinn’s position as a liaison was an important one — making law enforcement more visible, which he said was “always a positive” and that she wasn’t just there to enforce rules, but was also building relationships. 

“I told Kim all the time that we missed her,” Medenwaldt said, noting that having a relationship with a long-term employee was important. Welcoming her back into the district was a smooth transition.

Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley agreed, noting that Quinn was a good fit from the start. 

“We knew if she was interested, she would be someone with the skills and abilities we would like to have,” Kelley said. “We also wanted the school to have a say in who it was.”

Getting the right person was a large concern for Kelly, and Quinn was a “prime candidate” for the position, having worked with school administration before. Her desire to do it is also helping make the position more successful, he said. 

Although Kelley doesn’t monitor Quinn daily, he does see her workload and cases she handles. 

“It seems like it’s going well,” Kelley said. “She’s busy — which is what we wanted. We’re always looking for ways to improve our relationship with young people.”

Calls to the school haven’t increased largely over the years, however, Kelley said with bigger issues that schools face it’s something both the school and the department hoped to address. 

“We’re looking to be more proactive rather than reactive,” Kelley said. “If (school administrators) believe there is a need in the school, we need to address it.”

The agreement was made for the position between the city and the school district, allowing Quinn’s salary to be split; she goes back to regular patrol during the summer months. The school district pays 60% of the average patrol officer salary and the City of Monroe covers the rest. 

Part of what Quinn loves about the job, she said, is that there’s no typical day. 

“Each day is different and it brings new and different challenges,” she said.

Medenwaldt said Quinn is involved with any student safety issues or concerns and even he didn’t foresee how helpful it would be to have her so accessible. 

“Having Kim here — we tend to involve her in things,” Medenwaldt said, noting that in the past some of the issues would have been handled within the district. 

Assistant Principal Jeriamy Jackson agreed. “It’s great to have her perspective,” he said, adding that having a direct resource for presentations and K-9 searches has been a big positive.

“We all appreciate having Kim here,” Jackson said. “And this is just the beginning.”

Quinn spends the majority of her time at Monroe High School but regularly responds and participates at other school buildings. 

“My main goal is to bridge the gap with students and making it so more students are comfortable talking to me in any type of situation,” Quinn said.

Jackson said one of the biggest things the school hoped for Quinn’s position was that she would be visible to students and could establish a relationship with them to offer a new perspective of law enforcement — a role she’s fully filled. 

Although Quinn can and does give citations when students cross the line, prevention and proactiveness are a big part of her and the school’s focus, Jackson said. One of the biggest issues the school faces is truancy, something they’re working to curb. 

“Definitely the kids feel safer,” Medenwaldt said. “The visibility of having an officer — any people who were worried — that went away very quickly.”

Jackson echoed the sentiment, saying that he hears positive things from parents, feeling that the schools are safer with Quinn and the locked door security measures that have taken place. 

“It’s inconvenient but they do appreciate it — the feeling of safety,” Jackson said.

Quinn meets with school officials every Monday morning to discuss incidents and talk future goals. Quinn also participates on every school safety team and committee. 

Kelley said his goals for Quinn are parallel with the school’s — with the priority of building on police relationships with and safety for young people.

Medenwaldt said as time passes, the position will likely evolve to reflect specific needs of students and the school, but so far, it’s been a positive for students and staff. 

 “I’m not sure we could have asked for a better start,” Medenwaldt said.