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Columbiana names school resource officer

COLUMBIANA — A military veteran and longtime member of the city police force, Sgt. Wade Boley has been selected to serve the Columbiana school district as resource officer.

Superintendent Don Mook made the announcement during the Tuesday’s board of education meeting. He said Boley was selected by police Chief Tim Gladis to serve as the resource officer.

“I was very happy,” Mook said of Gladis’ decision. “I think he will be a great asset for us. I think any of the officers in Columbiana would be an asset to us.”

Boley has served as the district’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer since 2011 and is a certified DARE school resource officer. He has taught the program in both Columbiana and Heartland Christian schools.

“He knows the district well. He knows the staff. It will be a very easy transition for him,” Mook said.

Boley is a Southern Local High School graduate with more than 25 years on the Columbiana police force. He has also served as a part-time emergency dispatcher and EMT.

He began working as a full-time patrolman in July of 1998 and in 2010 was assigned to the detective division as the department’s primary investigator until 2017, when he was promoted to sergeant.

His extensive work in law enforcement also includes serving on the county homicide task force through the coroner’s office and he is also a forensic death investigator for the coroner’s office.

He has previously served on the special response team for the county sheriff’s office.

He is also a combat veteran, having spent three years of service in the Army and three years in the Air Force. In 2004, he completed a deployment to Iraq. He is the recipient of the Air Medal, Ohio Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement medals and the Global War on Terrorism medal.

He obtained the rank of staff sergeant in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 2006.

“I’m excited about the new school year and having the school resource officer position this year. It is really rewarding working with the kids and what a valuable resource the kids are for us,” Boley said when contacted after the meeting.

The school district began looking into hiring a resource officer earlier this year in response to an increase in school violence across the nation.

The board has already approved a memorandum of understanding with the police department for the resource officer through 2021.

“Safety has been a huge, huge issue across the U.S. and it hasn’t been any different here. Parents want to know their kids are safe when they come to school,” Mook said.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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