Bend-La Pine Schools staff, students to honor law enforcement

Bend-La Pine Schools’ staff and students will celebrate local law enforcement during Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Tuesday by donning blue, sharing positive stories of law enforcement, sending thank you notes to local officers and more.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and City of Bend Police Department will receive the 2018 Community Partner Award during Tuesday’sBend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors meeting.

“We hope our community members will join us in wearing blue and celebrating all that our local law enforcement members do for our students and schools,” said Superintendent Shay Mikalson. “We are tremendously grateful to have outstanding partnerships with Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.”

Bend-La Pine Schools is served by several School Resource Officers, who work directly with schools and are jointly funded by local law enforcement and the school district. Our schools invite members of law enforcement to join students for a free breakfast or lunch.

In the past year alone, police officers and sheriff deputies have played dodgeball with students, hosted attendance rallies, spoken in local classrooms and even practiced yoga alongside students.

“I want to say thank you to every man and woman in a uniform for your dedication to the safety of our local community and for your service to our students and families,” said Mikalson. “I hope our families will help us celebrate and honor their contributions on Jan. 9 — and every day.”