Alberto Martinez arrives at McHenry’s freshman campus to begin his last day of the first semester. He is a greatly valued staff member and knows how big of an impact he can make on these students’ lives. Walking from his car to the building, the cold winter air gives him a sense of accomplishment.
Not only was this semester a first for many freshmen, it was a first for Martinez, as this is his first year being the new school resource officer at freshman campus. Prior to his new occupation, he was a patrol officer and there’s a long journey behind him that got him to where he is today.
Growing up, Martinez had his own resource officer, Officer King, at his middle school who was tough on him, but greatly influenced his career direction.
“He was a really good school resource officer. He always kept tabs with me and always checked in with me.” Martinez says, “He never told me, but I felt like he probably saw the potential in me.”
Martinez’s school life, but primarily the peers he hung around with, is what drove him to be interested in law enforcement in the first place. He says how he has been interested in this career option since middle school. So, throughout highschool years he worked on getting a head start at education.
“I went to Elgin Community College, completed my two years there, and I got my associate’s degree,” Martinez says, “While I kind of figured out what I wanted to do with my life, I wanted to try different things.”
Martinez took a few different paths but none of them exactly got him to his desired destination. He went into accounting and as those options didn’t work out he settled on the idea of law enforcement.
“I was just a financial banker at a community bank, and I liked that for the time being, but I just felt like I would stay there until I could become a police officer,” Martinez says, “At that point, I didn’t continue with college.”
As Martinez completed the long hiring process, he was then sent to a police academy to be trained to his full potential. Then finally, he started applying for jobs at various departments.
“I always want to just get my foot in the door somewhere and start working, but McHenry turned out to be somewhere where I actually enjoy working.” Martinez says, “I love the community, and I don’t see myself working anywhere else.”
Martinez decided to take the job as a resource officer here at MCHS after his middle school resource officer, Officer King, was such a good influence and inspiration for him.
“When resource officers aren’t working in the school, we’re actually working street patrol. So when he was working patrol, he would actually swing by my house and check in with
me,” Martinez says, “and during the summer days, he doesn’t have to do that, but he swung around and would check in.”
Martinez does his best to connect with students on a deeper level and get through to them, because he knows what it feels like to be in their shoes and have these resources available to them.
“I’ll hang out with them downstairs, have conversations, and make those positive contacts.” Martinez says, “That’s very important.”
At the end of the day Martinez exhales a sigh of relief. As he sees the students on their way out, he smiles and waves as he wishes many farewells. His job for the day is complete, yet he is optimistic for next semester to come.