District hires high school police officer
Earlier this month, Mr. Greg Keefer stepped into Southmoreland High School for the first time as a district-wide police officer.
Keefer, whose office is located in the high school library, said the students and staff are “accommodating and friendly.”
“I’m happy to be here and enthusiastic to start the job,” said Keefer.
A Southmoreland graduate of 1981, Keefer started his law enforcement career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1986 with a degree in criminology. For four years after college he was a United States Marine in active duty, and in 1990 he became a Pennsylvania State trooper: a job he would remain with for 26 years as a detective and part of a SWAT team. Before retiring as a sergeant, his final assignment was being in charge of an undercover drug unit that covered 22 counties in the state. He said his job background “prepared” him for his current position.
“I’ll be developing programs for the staff as far as crisis action plans: anywhere from bomb threats to a tornado,” said Mr. Keefer, also mentioning potential armed intruders and riot handling. He also plans to organize drug awareness programs.
Mr. Keefer said that he has an “open door policy” for anyone with questions about enforcement.
“Hopefully I’ll act as a mentor,” Keefer said. “Students are starting their adult lives, and hopefully I’ll have a positive influence on them.”
Both Mr. Keefer and principal Daniel Krofcheck want the police officer position to “provide a safe learning environment” for the staff and students. Mr. Keefer’s background with law enforcementĀ provides a “bridge” from the district to the police department.
For the “safety” of the school, Mr. Keefer will have limited powers of arrest once he is sworn in by a local judge. He will be capable of arresting anyone causing harassment and disorderly conduct, with “small fights” given as an example.
“He’s not going to arrest me for speeding in the parking lot,” joked Mr. Krofcheck.
Mr. Keefer was hired with a state grant to have a police officer for the schools for the next two years. By the end of the two years, Mr. Krofcheck plans to either apply for a new grant or go to the school board to discuss giving Mr. Keefer a permanent position.
Mia Rocco
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