December 5, 2022 at 11:57 a.m.
Trevor Young: Homegrown school resource officer
Trevor Young: Homegrown school resource officer
By Jake Schexnaydre-
While many people dream of venturing beyond their humble beginnings in favor of greener pastures, Rhinelander school resource officer Trevor Young has found there are plenty of opportunities to be explored within one's own hometown.
Young was born and raised in Rhinelander to a family that has made the city their home for several generations. His father is a captain with the Oneida County Sheriff's Department and his grandfather was a principal at Rhinelander High School.
He attended Nicolet College to get his two-year associate degree. Before he got his start in law enforcement, some of his previous employment included jobs at the Northwoods Golf Club and the Printpack plant.
With the help of Rhinelander Partners in Education, Young was able to find a job in the corrections department at the Oneida County Sherriff's Department, seeing as they are partnered with this organization. This would eventually lead him to attain a position as a deputy that he would maintain for five years, and he would later become a school resource officer. This is his second year in that position.
Rhinelander Partners in Education (PIE) is an organization that seeks to provide employment within the community to young citizens who have completed their education in the Rhinelander school system. Some of their means of providing these opportunities include local events like the Recreational Rodeo, Mad Money, and Careers on Wheels.
As Rhinelander PIE's own Mike Cheslock said, "We try to do [this] to help all students and all teachers, and Trevor's a perfect example of that."
As part of his job, Trevor Young regularly patrols Pelican and Crescent Elementary Schools, along with Central Intermediate School. He also covers James Williams Middle School and Rhinelander High School.
One of his most favorite things about his job is interacting with kids in the schools. From time to time, he'll talk to them, play games with them at recess, and even tutor them on whatever they're learning in class, he said.
"All the staff in all of the schools are excellent, and they do a very good job of teaching the kids materials that they need to know and everyday life lessons they can use going forward," Young said.
Despite his father having a background in law enforcement, Young's career path was not initially met with unanimous support. This is not surprising, considering that law enforcement is known to be a dangerous job. However, his family has grown accustomed to his position, and some of his friends that he grew up with have also joined the force.
"There were concerns initially, but everyone was very excited for me," Young explained. "I think that they were looking forward to the opportunity that I can give back to the community and build relationships within the Rhinelander and Oneida County community."
In addition to giving back to the community, Young also intends to use his position to remind the public that law enforcement is there to help them with any issues present. He also wants to show that law enforcement personnel are just as human as the people they protect.
Young hopes to maintain his position for a long time, and while he does have to handle some situations with the children and their families, he also intends to use the opportunities to build and maintain connections with them to facilitate the best possible outcomes.
"I think that's something very special," Young said. "and I don't think that many people to get to have that opportunity that this position provides."
Jake Schexnaydre may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.