Abbeville High now has new resource officer

Abbeville Chief of Police Mike Hardy had numerous department members approach him about becoming the new resource officer at Abbeville High School.
Officer Anaiz Gonzalez did so first, mainly because she was eager to fill a role she saw as vitally important.
“I am a single mom of six kids,” Gonzalez said. “I have five of my own and one adopted. I have seen a lot of things that youth go through in school. I think kids need someone they can talk to, somebody they may relate with a little more.
“I wanted to give whatever I had to this because they are good kids.”
Gonzalez, from Florida, came on with the Abbeville Police Department earlier this summer, having previously worked in New Iberia. She spent time last year as a resource officer at New Iberia Senior High.
During an Abbeville City Council meeting on Aug. 15, Mayor Roslyn White and city council members asked Hardy about placing an officer at the school throughout the day, looking to assure students and staff the safest environment possible. Hardy had previously pulled the resource officer to have everyone in the department on street patrol, but he did have officers stopping by the school multiple times a day. However, Hardy agreed that the time was right to put someone back at the school and said during the meeting that someone would be in place within two to three weeks. Gonzalez started at the school on Aug. 25.
“I think having an officer here makes them feel safer,” Gonzalez said of the students.
Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said on multiple occasions that the school system would cover the cost of having an officer at the school. The school system cannot hire a post-certified officer who can carry a firearm. That has to come from a local agency, like the Abbeville Police Department.
Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner visited with Gonzalez at Abbeville High on Tuesday morning. Turner said school system officials view Gonzalez as a great fit.
“We would have officers come and go,” Turner said of the previous daily routine. “The missing link was someone here consistently enough to build the relationships.”
Yes, Gonzalez is there for safety, but will be there for everyone in many ways.
“She is going to provide support,” Turner said, “for the teachers, faculty, and students. She will build relationships and support them with anything they need.”
Gonzalez said she does not take that responsibility lightly.
“It bridges many more gaps than people could imagine,” she said of her role.
Hardy expects Gonzalez will flourish in her new role.
“That’s going to work well for her,” Hardy said. “She’s got years of experience. She’s very outgoing and very professional.”
Students have responded well during the first few days of Gonzalez being on campus.
“I had a lot of kids come up to me by the end of the day on Monday,” Gonzalez said. “This allows them to see us (officers) on a human level, not just out there in patrol cars. Here, I get to talk to them. Many of them did want to talk to me. They asked me if I was going to stay.”
Not only does she plan to stay, but Gonzalez also plans to immerse herself in the Abbeville High community.
“I am going to be at their school activities and sporting events,” Gonzalez said. “I will be there cheering them on.”