Nixa school resource officers focus on keeping the schools safe every day. Nixa High School is home to two different resource officers, Eric Boxberger and Steven Wilbur. There are two events throughout the year that encourage students to say thank you to these officers. Jan. 9 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and National Police Week is the recognition of the police officers who either lost their lives or were disabled in the line of duty, and is celebrated the week of May 11 to May 17.

   Some ways to show support on these days are  to wear blue clothing, as well as writing thank-you notes to officers. When it comes to your local resource officers, students can show appreciation by respecting school rules and even thanking the officers for willing to be the first line of defence with possible  intruders.

   Nixa Resource officer Steven Wilbur said it is nice to be appreciated during  national police week.

    “This is my first year at the high school,” Wilbur said. “So I haven’t witnessed it at the high school yet, but when I was at the elementary, the students would all make cards, and teachers would bring them by to my office. So I do feel appreciation from them.” 

   While not many people know about national police week, they will still just show their appreciation sometimes. 

   “I do have kids that come up and thank me, and, you know, appreciate that I’m here and I can help them out with issues,” Wilbur said.  

   Having a job helping others can often be better than people make it out to be. 

   “I think just being able to make connections with students, and kind of be a positive impact for some of those that maybe don’t have that positive point in their life,” Wilbur said. “