Camarena works as school resource officer

Each morning at the crack of dawn, Deputy Damian Camarena drives off to work. However, unlike most law enforcement  officers, the place he calls "work" is not a sheriff station, but the various Saratoga schools he is in charge of protecting.

As a school resource officer, Camarena is involved in school safety and security at Redwood Middle School, Prospect High and Saratoga High, as well as elementary schools Argonaut, Foothill and Saratoga. In addition, he works at two private schools: Sacred Heart and St. Andrews.

“My main job is to make sure everything is safe on the campuses,” Camarena said. “I’m that middle person between the school and the sheriff’s office.”

Camarena’s job as the school resource officer for the city of Saratoga began last January, although he has been a deputy for five years.  He does not have specific hours at each campus, but Camarena tries to visit each of the schools at least once every week.

“I do genuinely love working with kids,” Camarena said. “This was a position you had to apply for and interview for. If I didn’t really want this position, I wouldn’t have put so much effort into trying to get it.”

Camarena said most of his job consists of working behind the scenes at the school campuses, like catching students who try to cut classes or checking in with the school offices to make sure there isn’t anything he needs to handle regarding crime. 

According to Camarena, the most exciting part of his job is seeing students are happy to see him on campus. 

“I see a lot of ugly stuff, a lot of sad stuff and a lot of stuff that isn’t so nice, so it’s kind of an uplifting feeling when someone actually wants to know what I do as a cop,” Camarena said. “Everyone only sees cop shows on TV, but that isn’t what we really do.”

Camarena said that one common fear of policemen is never being able to see his or her friends and family again.

“The reality of the job is that it’s dangerous; they give us a bulletproof vest for a reason,” Camarena said. “The reality is that I might start my shift at 7, but never go home at 5.  It’s a fear that I can’t think about, I just have to go out and do my job the best I can.”

Camarena added that it is always upsetting to him when he has to arrest someone or give citations.  But he feels better when people thank him, especially when the gratitude comes from the convict. 

“I’m not the kind of cop to put someone down; I don’t judge anyone,” Camarena said. “If somebody can just forget about the bad situation they are in, and take in any advice I’m giving, that’s pretty cool.”

According to Camarena, his favorite part of his school resource officer job is connecting with the students, especially if they voluntarily talk to him.

“I’ll try to strike conversations with the kids, but most high schoolers don’t really like to talk to police officers,” Camarena said. “If I can be that person who can help a student out through conversations or advice, I know I’m doing my job.”