LAC SEUL — "Unfortunately, sometimes we're viewed as the bad guys," said Dave Scott, social navigator for the Lac Seul Police Service.
Last month, Lac Seul Police Service visited Sioux Mountain Public School and Sioux Lookout North High School, with the goal to make a difference in students lives while building connection.
“One of the ways that our chief Rossi had directed me, (is to) get in the communities and meet with the students. Sometimes I'll just go to the schools and just walk around, go into a classroom, sit in and talk with the students."
Prior to chief Rossi directing this program, the small communities in Lac Seul’s area weren’t getting this experience, he said.
“This is something that's needed in every community, far and wide, and there's been talk that we may be going further north to visit some of the communities up north that are fly in communities that don't get the police to come in to do presentations.
“I know that there have been police officers periodically go in, but my job, I am planning on hitting the schools two or three times a week, so they get to know me."
Scott said he is also planning different activities in smaller communities.
“We did the walk for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and included the community. That that was a couple of weeks back, and it drew over 50 people,” he said.
A plan to hold a drug addictions walk for safety is in the works, he added.
Scott visited Sioux Mountain Public School, where a K9 officer joined and did a demonstration with the dog. He also visited Sioux Lookout North High School, and talked to Grade 12 students about careers.
He said it was really great to see students engaged in the presentations with questions and comments.
“They would come over and talk to me and they asked me questions after, and I provide them with my email address if they need to contact me for any kind of circumstances they may run into.
The high school students “were engaged in asking questions I would pose, how do you get a license, what do you need to buy a house and how do you get a job, do you have a resume, those kinds of questions.
“A lot of students, when I asked the resume part, put up their hands. That's encouraging to see that they're looking forward.”
It’s a need in every community, Scott said.
“The more consistent we are, even if we make a difference in one student's life, to have them turn around and have a look at what's out there, I think that's very important.
“I've dedicated my life to this and I really enjoy what I'm doing now.”
Scott said he has received a thank you letter from the teacher, and already has more classes interested.
“It's going to be a good year," he said.
The overall theme of Scott's job is to get out there, share experience with the students, and builds an open relationship with the police and the students, he said.
“This kind of project is something that will really help develop a good relationship between our police service and the community. I’m really enjoying meeting the kids, talking to the kids, and engaging with them in conversation,” he said.
