Livingston Manor Central School graduate Alyza Garcia has returned to her old school building to help protect, educate and build relationships as Rockland Middle/High school resource officer.

Following graduation from Livingston Manor, Deputy Garcia earned her associate degree in criminal justice. She was hired by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office two years ago, accepting the position as SRO, following longtime SRO Jason Beebe’s promotion to corporal.

“This is a new experience and a new challenge for me,” Deputy Garcia said. “Initially, I was unsure if becoming an SRO was something I wanted to pursue. I was approached and asked if I would consider taking on the role, and after giving it some thought, I decided to accept the opportunity.”

She said her decision to take the position at Rockland was not only because that was where the opening was, but because of her connection to the building.

“Rockland Central School is a school that is important to me because I attended this school myself, and my siblings currently attend here,” Deputy Garcia said. “Because of that connection, I felt that this was an opportunity I wanted to take.

“Being able to come back to a school that was once a part of my own life and now serve the students and community in a different role is something I am proud of,” she added.

Although providing security and responding to challenging situations is a big part of the job, she said the job is much more than that. 

“I believe an SRO has the opportunity to make a real difference in a student’s life,”  Deputy Garcia said. “Students may be dealing with challenges that are not always visible, and having a trusted adult in the school who is willing to listen, offer guidance and help when needed can be extremely important.

“I want students to know that I am here not only to help keep the school safe, but also to support them and be someone they can turn to when they need help,” she added.

Her job goes beyond the students, she said.

“Building strong relationships with students, teachers, administrators and families creates a safer and more positive school environment. When students know and trust their SRO, it can make it easier to identify concerns early, address problems before they become more serious, and encourage students to make good decisions,” she said.

She said she is excited to learn the role in a place that means a lot to her.

“Because I have a personal connection to this school, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give back and make a positive impact,” Deputy Garcia said. “My goal is to build trust, be approachable, and help create a school environment where students feel safe, respected and supported.”