Hey Grand Mesa Middle School, it’s time to meet your School Resource Officer (SRO), Sergeant Marco Montez. Sergeant Montez is the supervisor of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office SRO team. He is based out of Mount Garfield Middle School and supports Central High School, Rocky Mountain Elementary, and all of the elementary schools in unincorporated Mesa County. 

Sergeant Montez has been with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office for 26 years and has been an SRO for three of them. “I can’t believe it took me 26 years to see that being an SRO is where I belong to best serve the community, schools, students, staff, and parents.”

As an SRO, Sergeant Montez says that his main focus is on safety, but he also acts as an informal counselor and law enforcement educator. “Most commonly, staff ask about school safety and what to do in an emergency,” he says. He also enjoys the students asking him questions. “I’m an open book. As long as the kids ask the right questions, I will answer them,” he says.

Sergeant Montez says that the most common issues he sees at Grand Mesa Middle School are behavior and peer conflict. He encourages students to look at their choices differently, saying, “Work the problem, don’t let the problem work you! You will be given many choices in life, and it is up to you to choose the outcome. You will know you are making the right decision if you answer yes to this simple question - will my family, friends, school, or anyone I trust be proud of me after this decision?”

Sergeant Montez is excited about this school year and looks forward to positively impacting his community.