Above: Fairmont Police Officers wait to be “adopted” by first grade classes Monday afternoon inside the gym at Fairmont Elementary School. From left: Eric Tonder, Chelsea Yeager, Parker Stevens, Mike Beletti, Dayton Asmus, Dustin Schwebke, Shannon Bass and Chief Mike Hunter.

FAIRMONT– Six Fairmont Police officers were “adopted” by first grade classes at Fairmont Elementary School on Monday. The Adopt A Cop program aims to help form positive relationships between police officers and students.

Adopt A Cop was first brought to the Fairmont Area School District in 2017.

The district’s School Resource Officer, Shannon Bass, said, “it was going strong and then Covid hit. We had to take a couple of years both for the school and us, to make sure everyone stayed safe.”

Bass said they knew they wanted to revive the program this year. On Monday afternoon a ceremony was held in the Fairmont Elementary School gym.

In selecting the officers, Bass said he just sent out a message, opening it up to everyone, and the officers volunteered. He pointed out that the private schools in town are also part of the program with officer Jason Christenson at Fairmont Christian School, officer Dayton Asmus at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and chief Mike Hunter at St. John Vianney.

“It’s a good experience for the officers. Some of them have never really been around kids or this is their first experience around the little ones,” Bass said.

When asked why first grade was selected, Fairmont Elementary School co-principal, Michelle Rosen, said, “It’s at that age where students start understanding community and who helps in the community. That’s a concept we work on at that age. Adopt A Cop fits right in there.”

She said she was really excited when Bass said that the program was on again this year.

“This is something we would continue to do hands-down,” Rosen said.

Bass said the officers will go into the classroom and do crafts with the students, read them books, talk to them about public safety, or have lunch with them.

The officer and teacher work on a schedule together and Bass said they aim to get together once a month at the minimum.

Down the line as students get older, Bass said they’ll remember who they had as an officer, much like remembering who students had as a teacher.

“It’s to get the kids to see the police as a friend and a normal person,” Bass explained.

Overall, he hopes the officers make a positive impact in the student’s lives.

“A lot of times when we respond to something, it’s negative. This gives them the chance to see us in a positive light,” Bass said.