The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from the Taylorville School Resource Officer, during their weekly luncheon Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Bryan Thomas, a member of the Taylorville Police Department for some 18 years, became the Taylorville School District’s Resource Officer, last school year.  Thomas said that in his going-on 2 years on the job, he’s learned from both students and staff.  

Thomas added that with junior and senior high school students in his family, it was even more reason to accept the position.  Thomas has 5 school buildings that he makes appearances in, with an office at Taylorville High School.

Thomas told Kiwanis Club members that he’s working to bridge the gap between the police and students, adding that he truly cares about the students and the school district.

During a question and answer session, Thomas told Kiwanis members that school staff is pleased to have him on the job.  And, he added that in his going-on 2 years on the job, the biggest problem he’s dealt with is vaping among students, adding that with state law forbidding vaping or cigarette use by minors, writing tickets for the violations among students with a 200-dollar fine, has reduced the use of vaping in the school district considerably.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.