The Owensboro Police Department has named Officer Sal Castro as the School Resource Officer to serve the student population at both Owensboro Middle School and Owensboro Innovation Middle School.
Castro is a nine-year veteran of the OPD who began serving the community of Owensboro in 2011. He will also be a familiar face to the students as he has served as a D.A.R.E. officer for the Owensboro Public Schools district for the past three years.
“Becoming a police officer and having the opportunity to work in the schools is really the best of both worlds for me,” Castro said. “I have already developed a relationship with many of the students through my time as a D.A.R.E officer and my experience in the classroom prior to becoming a police officer will help me work with any student on all the issues they may face on a daily basis.”
Prior to becoming a police officer, Castro spent several years working as a language tester for K-8 students in Yuma, Ariz. He worked with students who transferred in from other states or across the border from Mexico on their English proficiency, and he assisted with their transition to a new school district.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the decision to have Officer Castro as the middle school SRO,” said Owensboro Middle School Principal of Operations Randy Bryant. “The kids love him and he will be able to step in right away to make a difference in our school building. His presence here on a daily basis will be invaluable to our students and their families.”
Castro will become the second active School Resource Officer in the district, joining Officer Scott Norris who has served as the only SRO in the district for the past year. This is the first time the district will have two SROs active at the same time.
“The Owensboro Police Department is pleased to continue our partnership with Owensboro Public Schools by adding an additional officer to help in the middle schools,” said OPD Public Information Officer Andy Boggess. “This addition not only extends a relationship we’ve had with OPS for a long time, but strengthens the safety and security of everyone in the building as well.”
Castro will officially begin his duties as the middle school SRO on Aug. 3.
