How a novel school security program became ‘essential’ in Kennewick
Scott Child made sure to reserve a warm smile for a certain student as he pulled up in a Kennewick school bus to pick her up each morning.
He knew the 1st grader from Eastgate Elementary came from a challenging home environment, and suspected one of her parents wasn’t in her life. He noted the disheveled condition of the girl’s home while driving by one day.
In 2023, the retired Kennewick police commander turned school bus driver took on a new job – leading the creation of the Kennewick’s School Safety Officer (SSO) program. The innovative, levy-funded program is the first of its kind for the Tri-Cities, and remains unique in Eastern Washington.
And specifically for him, he got to reconnect with the former Eastgate student when he became a safety officer at another elementary school in Kennewick.
Even as a security officer, he could tell he was making “a big impact on her.”
Then one day, he got a call from her teacher.
“They have the kids make something for their parents, and it was on Father’s Day, and she didn’t have a dad,” Child recalled. “So she made me a little tie.”
The teacher was inviting “Mr. Scott” into the classroom to receive the rainbow-colored paper tie. It read, in Spanish, “Happy Father’s Day. Thank you for taking care of me and teaching me how to be a better person.”
The girl cried tears of joy — and students cheered — as she handed it over to her father figure.
“That, to me, will stand out for the rest of my life,” Child said. “That just hit it home.”
SSO officers like Child are having a big impact on elementary students each day, and they’re leading the way in creating a secure teaching environment in the Tri-Cities, said those involved.
Child says his story of mentorship is just one of dozens he’s heard from officers on the beat in schools around Kennewick.
The SSO program has grown from its creation in fall 2023, and district leaders believes it’s been an overwhelming success.
SSO program grows to 17
Initially, just five officers covered 10 schools. Now the district has 17 officers serving each of the district’s elementary schools, putting 450 collective years of law enforcement experience back to work.
It was a slow start to the program because the district wanted to be intentional about the candidates it hired, and Child wanted to build the program out.
These officers are different from school resource officers, commonly known as SROs, who are employed as commissioned officers by police departments to spend time in high schools and middle schools.
Instead, SSOs are retired police officers who work as school district employees. These are individuals who are truly passionate about protecting kids, Child said.
“This business is all about ensuring our students and staff are safe,” he said.
They build relationships with students and staff, conduct campus safety checks, walk students to class, and serve as a helping hand to building operations. Child says they even train new officers how to give hugs to kids.
“These guys take it personal. Protecting those kids, they almost become their kids,” he said.
These officers also take part in emergency preparedness training, help lead routine safety drills during the school year and are the “first line of defense” when threats approach schools.
It’s a part-time job. They work school days for 180 days out of the year, take summers off, and start at about $30 an hour plus health care benefits.
These officers are equipped with a police department-issued handgun and police radio, but do not have the power to engage in student discipline, make arrests, conduct investigations or issue citations. They also have access to building cameras.
There’s been no reported use of force with students in the first 30 months, Child said.
Officer program ‘essential’ part of learning
Superintendent Lance Hansen called the program an “essential” offering at Kennewick schools, and says these experienced officers have a true “lens for safety.”
“They see things in the world differently than the average person. It’s not like we’re hiring a security guard,” he said.
The program is funded $1 million annually for officer salaries included in the district’s operations levy.
On Feb. 10, Kennewick will ask voters to approve a four-year renewal that will raise $128.5 million for not just safety programs, but for teachers, athletics programs, special education, librarians, psychologists, college credit programs and student arts and music.
Hansen says those security needs don’t change if the levy fails. School Safety Officers work in conjunction with School Resource Officers and security staff to provide a “full net” of protection around Kennewick schools.
“If your revenues change and your needs don’t — just like in your home — you still have to meet the needs. And we believe this is an essential part of our program. Not a plus or an addition — it’s essential, it’s a need that we have,” he said.
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Child says what works about the SSO program is the “calming affect” their presence has on staff, parents and students.
Skeptical community members have become supporters after Child explains that they’re there to protect kids and staff. Their work feels more like being a firefighter than a police officer, he says.
But it is a partnership with Kennewick Police Department. Candidates who are hired are required to undergo background checks, firearm training and active shooter training with the police agency.
Hires also have to have formerly been a state-certified police officer. That helps with advanced training, communication with KPD and understanding restraining order laws. They “speak cop,” Child said.
“If kids and staff don’t feel safe, then the education process isn’t there 100%,” Child said. “We’re really committed to making sure that our kids are fully prepared to become productive members of our community. That requires a lot of education, and we provide the safety for that.”
Elementary schools are a vulnerability for communities, Child says. Hansen adds that it speaks volumes that this program wasn’t created after a local tragedy. The program does have roots in local discussions after the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
While there’s no way to quantitatively gage how effective the program has been at deterring crime, it’s helped buildings enhance their safety protocols, shutdowns and training.
School surveys show students and staff are feeling more safe with the SSOs, Hansen said. Having officers on campus has also helped get quick emergency responses.
“Typically, we will run into more situations where the concern or a threat will actually be happening in the neighborhood,” Hansen said.
The program also snagged a notable hire in the fall: Former Benton County Sheriff Tom Croskrey. Child says he inquired about the program prior to his retirement.
“I think that speaks a lot about the program,” said Child, whose worked SWAT team responses with Croskrey.
He has grandkids in Kennewick schools, and Child says he has a passion for the kids. He works at Lincoln Elementary School.
“Tom has been a very natural fit for us based on his ability to communicate with the kids and his vast knowledge of safety,” he said. “He feels like he’s almost gone to heaven.”
Child says there’s potential for growth in the program, to improve communications with KPD and room to improve on their consistency. But he feels the program is solid, their personnel are committed, and they’re ready to de-escalate situations.
As a former cop, Child says he used to ask “why” when he saw school shootings in the news. That’s changed.
“Now, I feel like we’re part of the solution,” he said.
- Reporter Larissa Babiak, a WSU journalism fellow, provided translation services for this story.
This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 6:10 AM.
