Officer Rodney Watts

Isabela Diaz

Staff Writer

Rita Nicholson

Copy Editor

OFFICER RODNEY WATTS

Rodney Watts said he was a little nervous on his first day as the school resource officer but is more comfortable now.

“I’m invested now. I love my job,” he said, “and it’s a good career.” The job takes on a personal side for Watts too. “My son’s a freshman at Austin, so he’s friends with a lot of these kids. A lot of these kids have grown up at my house,” he said. “It’s [been] a fun year.”

Watts’ dream as a child was to become a police officer. He attended the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville and graduated with a degree in criminology. He then attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. In 1998, his dream became a reality. He now has 21 years of experience.

He is also more than just a school resource officer. Watts is able to instruct others in a variety of topics, from firearms to criminal law and almost anything related to law enforcement.

“[Firearms] are kind of a passion of mine, so I really enjoy that,” Watts said. He described the process of becoming a firearms instructor as grueling due to the heavy requisites needed to pass. Potential instructors had to go through a 10 day course and shoot at least three targets in order to graduate.

“It was difficult,” Watts said.

Watts’ duties differ when he is on the school campus. He described his duties as “just securing the perimeter of the school and making sure the kids are safe. I check the parking lot for cars [and occupants] that shouldn’t be there.”

Watts has been married to his wife for 20 years and has two kids, Brooklyn and Brady. He can also be found hunting or fishing in his free time.