THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Police Service and Matawa Education and Care Centre have partnered in the launch of a new dedicated school resource officer program.
Cst. Larry Baxter, a 21-year veteran of the police service and a Matawa member from Eabametoong First Nation, was assigned the position after an internal competition.
In a joint announcement Tuesday, the two organizations said they began talks about a possible dedicated school resource officer program last fall.
This led to the creation of a new position requiring a core skillset to help ensure the program's effectiveness.
Baxter began his policing career with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service in 1998, and has served in a variety of Thunder Bay police units and branches including criminal investigations, uniform patrol, court services, the former beat patrol, and the aboriginal liaison unit.
He said his main priority will be student safety and working with the different departments in the education building, including the mental health team, youth care centre, safe sobering site and the on-call service "with policies and new strategies to keep students safe."
Baxter said he looks as his secondment as a step that will benefit both the police service and the Matawa students
"I want to thank the TBPS for thinking outside the box exploring new and innovative ways to keep Indigenous students safe while they attend school in Thunder Bay," he said.
The Matawa Education and Care Centre is located at 200 Lille St. N, which is the former Grandview Lodge.
Principal Brad Battiston said he looks forward to strengthening the relationship between the students and the Thunder Bay Police Service.
"We also hope this funding will become permanent," he said, "as we believe it is an essential service for our students."
The announcement did not indicate the source of the funding, but stated that it is currently in place only until Aug. 31, 2023.
Baxter is the first school resource officer dedicated to work exclusively at one site.
The police service has two other school resource officers who are assigned to work in schools around the city.
