Officer Tim Schuch has returned to Whitefish schools as the new resource officer for the district.

The 2005 Whitefish High School graduate took the job this fall, which has him spending his time at Muldown, the middle and high schools. He attended Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., before joining the Whitefish Police Department serving as a patrol officer for the last five years.

Schuch said he wanted to come back to the place where he grew up because he’d like to see it stay the same way.

His transition to school resource officer is a way to serve the community and schools, he said. Prior to his arrival, when there was an issue at a school, whichever officer was on duty would respond to the call.

“This is better because I know the people in the school and that makes it a lot easier,” he said. “This is part of community policing — being proactive and preventative, while being able to nip problems in the bud before they happen.”

The police department earned a federal grant that helped to fund the position with a matching contribution provided by the school district. The position had historically been funded in a partnership between the city and school district, but was eliminated in 2010 due to a lack of funding.

Schuch wants to break down a barrier that may exist between some students and law enforcement.

At the elementary school, that means shaking hands with the students and explaining the gear on his belt. At the high school, it’s also talking with students so he becomes a familiar face.

“I want to make sure the younger students know that I’m approachable and that a police officer isn’t just someone in a car,” he said. “For the older students, I also want them to be comfortable and know they can come talk to me if they have an issue.”

Schuch said his role as school resource officer has three main pieces.

“I’m here to be a resource, for education and also for law enforcement,” he said. “Already in a few weeks, I’ve fulfilled those three roles.”

A school officer can work with administrators serving as a mediator or counselor to help diffuse problems between students, he explained.

As one part of the education piece, Schuch spoke to a high school biology class last week. He explained how law enforcement officers use forensic analysis in processing a crime scene.

“That was definitely different,” he said. “I enjoyed being able to do that.”