Randolph is attending police academy three times a week and Saturdays, a schedule that will allow him to work with Corp. Mireles on the CPD Cops N Jocks and PAL programs.Corp. Mireles was initially suspicious of the Cops N Jocks program: “I was resisting, I didn’t understand.” But he soon became its biggest booster, noting that the program is “wonderful, positive exposure for law enforcement” among youth. “Kids look at us in a different way,” through exposure through recreational and sports activities, from BBQs to guitar lessons to football games to wrestling matches.“When you pull up, the kids come running to you instead of running away from you.... The program makes them feel good that we are interested in and concerned about them. Rich created a great program. We’ve had kids taking a wrong turn in the road, and Cops N Jocks gives them structure, a family and a sense of values. It just changes a lot of kids.”Randolph will probably be mirroring his duties with CPD: “It’s possible he’ll again be a SRO if he wants to... we have some very unique programs” held on school campuses, said Corp. Mireles. “Rich is coming to a place that is light years ahead and we need him. The Chief (Kenneth Rulon) is very supportive.... I have confidence that Rich will take over my spot in a few years. He has a passion for the community,” not always found in even dedicated officers. “We’re all looking forward to working with him, our Chief also. Rich always said he wanted to come to Colton PD, so his wish has come true. We’ll take care of him.”
|
SPPD Officer Rich Randolph: Cops N Jocks founder off to Colton PD
September 28, 2005
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesOfficer Rich Randolph, founder and director of the nationally recognized Cops N Jocks program and a popular officer who spent much of his career working with area youth, has left the Santa Paula Police Department to become an officer for the City of Colton. The Colton Police Department, located in San Bernardino County, has been strongly involved in the Cops N Jocks program, which matches police officers with youth and offers a variety of programs.Randolph founded Cops N Jocks when he was a SPPD Reserve Officer; he was hired by the department in 1995. He has also served as a dispatcher and as the School Resource Officer for Santa Paula High and Gateway schools, as well as the School Safety Coordinator for Oak Park High School.The focus of a 1996 People magazine feature, the Cops N Jocks program was recognized as the California Crime Prevention Program of the Year by the state Attorney General’s Office. Last year, Randolph was recognized with the prestigious National Association of School Resource Officers Award.Randolph had to choose between the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and the Colton Police Department, and is now attending the police academy.Corporal Ernie Mireles, a 27-year CPD veteran, has known Randolph about a decade since they met through Cops N Jocks. “It falls under the umbrella of our PAL (Police Activities League) program, and I admire Rich as the creator of Cops N Jocks,” noted Corp. Mireles.Colton Police has 73 officers serving more than 50,000 residents, a “nice little town with a lot of history” where Randolph’s “passion” will be well applied, noted Corp. Mireles. Randolph has also been “very important” in raising the awareness and networking of the School Resource Officer program. “Rich has a lot of integrity, and everywhere he goes people like him,” said Corp. Mireles.
