Oaks Named New Liaison Officer for Royal Oak High

Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue has named Officer Terry Oaks the new school liaison officer (SLO) for Royal Oak Schools.

Oaks began his new assignment last week working with students and teachers at the high school to build relationships and to serve as a role model for the high school students. 

"The position is a great opportunity for me to get involved in the community," said Oaks, who has worked for the city of Royal Oak for more than a decade.

With an office inside Royal Oak High School's new welcome center near the main entrance on Lexington Avenue, the SLO's job is to resolve issues that arise in the school in an effective and efficient manner.

"The role of the school liaison officer is to provide students the opportunity to grow and develop a relationship with police and to understand the role of law enforcement as they grow into adulthood," said Supt. Shawn Lewis-Lakin. "We see it as part of the education process."

Students see the SLO as an asset for creating the type of strong and vital community that they wish to be a part of, Lewis-Lakin said.

School Liaison Officer duties include:

• Runaway investigations
• Networking and sharing information with school principals and other agencies
• Attend graduation ceremonies
• Attend sporting events, dances, parent/teacher conferences
• Preside on homecoming, prom, senior all-night party committees
• Give classroom presentations on various topics
• Arrange K-9 sweeps
• Give testimony at expulsion hearings
• Monitor and review school surveillance camera system
• Monitor school parking lots
• Truancy home visits
• Coordinate with county juvenile caseworkers
• Coordinate with Royal Oak Community Coalition
• Coordinate with Save Our Youth Taskforce
• Coordinate with Royal Oak Youth Assistance
• Work with parents seeking advice
• Respond to issues that arise at Churchill, Royal Oak Middle School and all elementary schools

About Officer Terry Oaks

Oaks was recognized by the police chief as the Royal Oak Police Department's Officer of the Year in May for his keen observation and the ability to take action without undue haste or or delay.

On Nov. 22, 2012 while on patrol, Oaks observed a suspicious red pick-up truck in the area of Fourth and Main. He made a note of the vehicle description and the license plate. A short time later, dispatch broadcast a citizen had just been robbed in the area of Main and Allenhurst and the suspects fled the scene. They matched the description of the people Oaks had seen earlier that day. He quickly notified dispatch and a "be on the lookout" was broadcast and the suspects were arrested in Oak Park. 

"It's very unlikely that the suspects would've ever been caught but for Officer Oaks' keen observation," O'Donohue told the Royal Oak City Commission in May.

Another incident occurred on Sept. 10, 2012 when Oaks responded to the report of a bank robbery in Huntington Woods. Oaks located the suspect vehicle traveling on south on Woodward and became involved in a pursuit with the suspect vehicle. 

The suspect ultimately crashed his vehicle in Pleasant Ridge and fled on foot. Oaks immediately pursued on foot along with a Huntington Woods officer and the man was ultimately taken into custody.

"Officer Oaks kept his composure in the face of extreme danger," O'Donohue said in May while awarding Oaks with a citation for bravery.