School District 6 has a new school resource officer in Sean Murphy. Murphy replaces Sgt. Todd Mertz, who held the post since 2005. Mertz is now a patrol sergeant for the Columbia Falls Police Department, the position Murphy held.

Murphy, 38, has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Flathead Valley Community College. He grew up in Iowa and served 8 1/2 years in the Air Force.

He came to Montana when he was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base and joined the Columbia Falls Police Department as a patrolman in 2003.

He has a wife, Wendy, and three boys, Tyler, Talon and Treyson. All are active in sports — football and baseball — and the family life revolves around going to events, Murphy said. Tyler is a wide receiver for the Wildcat football team.

Murphy said he looks forward to working as SRO for Columbia Falls.

“It’s another opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience,” he said.

The school resource officer is a police position co-funded by the city, the school district and the county. The intent is to head off problems at the schools and to deal with conflicts that might arise during the school year, giving a police presence at all four of the schools in the school district.