Over the past nine years, Waukegan police officer Brian Falotico, the school resource officer (SRO) at Waukegan High School’s Washington campus, has developed hundreds of relationships with students.
Those relationships range from long-term mentorship after high school to sparking careers in law enforcement to providing a lunchtime refuge from cafeteria stress to developing enough trust to get leads on a crime committed in the city and more.
“After a weekend, kids will come into my office and say, ‘There was a shooting in my neighborhood, keep an eye on this guy,’” Falotico said. “I pass it along. Their names are never used.”
Falotico’s years of relationship building earned him the Bridge the Gap award from the National Association of School Resource Officers for his positive behavioral intervention with students Monday at the organization’s annual conference in Phoenix.
Darryl Wilson, the director of crisis intervention and Safety for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, said Falotico’s relationship building with students helps create a positive attitude by youngsters toward the police.
“He is the bridge between law enforcement and the students,” Wilson said. “The relationships he builds are lasting relationships. He helps when he sees a kid needs it. The relationships he builds now will become adult relationships.”
Wilson said along with relationship building, the SRO’s job is being visible not just for students, but teachers, administrators, staff and visitors as well. The officer is in uniform and armed. He is there if a situation requires his law enforcement expertise.
“Having an officer on site significantly reduces response time,” Wilson said. “In an active shooter incident, time is of the essence. We don’t have to call law enforcement. He is there immediately.”
Though Falotico is prepared and ready to act if needed, he said actual police work is a very tiny percentage — less than 1% — of his workday. His presence is very important because it leads to the relationship building which is the essence of the job.
“I say hi to the students in the hallway,” Falotico said. “They see my presence as being normal. Once they know that, it opens the door for more communication. Some relationships have lasted through college and into adulthood.”
A three-sport athlete at Warren Township High School, Falotico said he has made connections with Bulldog student-athletes mentoring them. He has guided several to college athletics and continues to communicate with them.
Of the hundreds of students he has developed relationships over his nine years as the SRO, Falotico said approximately 20 have chosen careers in law enforcement. Some now work in Waukegan while the others are in departments elsewhere. He is often a reference.
“It’s very heartwarming,” Falotico said. “I’ll walk them through the process and help them prepare for the test. We’ll text or talk regularly.”
A 20-year veteran of the Waukegan Police Department, Falotico said he started as a patrol officer and then spent five years in the gang and drug unit before becoming the SRO nine years ago. His time with gangs and drugs became a benefit as an SRO.
“It has helped me,” Falotico said. “In gangs and drugs we come across a lot of juveniles who make wrong decisions. When I see kids (now) who might be prone to that, I try to help with a course correction. I want them to view me as a trusted adult.”
For the most part, Wilson said the SRO program has gone “very well” though there have been some “hiccups along the way.” On those occasions, policy changes were made by both the district and the police department to smooth the situation.
