Montville School Resource Officer Focuses On Helping People; Building Relationships

MONTVILLE, CT — Local students recognized for kindness or hard work can get a treat - and many choose to get a ride in a police cruiser with local School Resource Officer Karen Aleshire.

“They love it and so do I,” said Aleshire. “I pick them up and drive them to breakfast and then to school. Or sometimes we get it on the way home and get ice cream.”

When cancer impacted student families, Aleshire shaved her head in order to help raise money.

Aleshire regularly coordinates food donation efforts to assist families. She can often be spotted doing fun activities and playing games with local children to build a relationship between young people and the police department.

Jill Mazzalupo, principal at Oakdale Elementary School, said of Aleshire, “She is kind and compassionate, and everyone loves her.”

“If you have attended school in Montville, you know who she is,” Mazzalupo said.

Aleshire is one of three school resource officers for Montville, and she works at all of the elementary schools and the alternative high school.

She has been a police officer for 26 years, and started working as a school resource officer in 2009.

“The best part of being a school resource officer is building a relationship with the kids,” Aleshire said.

The most challenging part of the job?

“Not bringing everything home (emotionally), given all the challenges that kids are going through and all the help that they need,” Aleshire said.

She regularly goes into classrooms to participate, and she joins students on field trips and for social events. She taught D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, for the school district for several years.

“It’s all about building a relationship with the kids,” she said.

Aleshire: Police “are here to help people.”

According to Mazzalupo, Aleshire is known for her efforts to help others - from coordinating food donations, to helping with fundraising for those in need.

“She helps fundraise for families in town all of the time,” Mazzalupo said.

Aleshire in 2021 offered to get her head shaved if a fundraising effort to benefit student families impacted by cancer got past $10,000. About $14,000 was raised, and Aleshire followed through with her pledge. The funds were given to two families, according to Aleshire.

“When we went to deliver the cash, it was very emotional,” Aleshire said. “For many families in this situation, not all of their bills are covered by insurance.”

Police Chief Wilfred Blanchette said Aleshire regularly makes a difference in the community.

“I have tasked her with organizing events which create a close bond and trust with the citizens of Montville,” Blanchette said.

He gave examples of the National Night Out, the 11-week Citizens’ Police Academy and a Homecoming Bonfire event.

National Night Out is a nationwide effort aimed at promoting police and community partnerships.

According to Aleshire, the police chief asked her to take the lead in bringing it to Montville, and the local event is in its third year.

The death of George Floyd in 2020 in Minneapolis has caused some people to be fearful of police, Aleshire noted.

“There is always a need to build relationships,” Aleshire said.

The chief also wanted to start a local Citizen’s Police Academy, and the first one ran from January 29 through April 9 of this year.

Aleshire called it a “huge success,” with people from ages 14 to 80 participating. Citizens learned about a variety of police-related topics, from accident reconstruction, to photographing mock crime scenes, to practicing lifting fingerprints.

Aleshire also organized a Homecoming game bonfire party, which the Montville police department hosted in 2024. According to Aleshire, it was well-received, and police hope to continue it.

“It is nice when we can do things to give back to the community,” Aleshire said. “Ultimately we are here to help people. Policing is not just about stopping crimes.”

Know a first responder — past or present — who’s making a difference in Montville? We’d love to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch.

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