Second Wellesley Student Resource Officer Named

WELLESLEY, MA — The Wellesley Police Department has their pick for the second student resource officer.

Wellesley Police Chief Jack Pilecki announced at Tuesday’s selectmen meeting that Officer Kathy Poirier will start her new position July 1. The six-year veteran of the police department joins Officer Evan Rosenberg on the school beat.

Poirier was one of four candidates for the new opening. Prior to her time as a police officer, she was an emergency communication center dispatcher in Wellesley for two years. Officer Poirier has worked in the patrol division, and more recently was assigned to the Wellesley Police Bike Unit. As a bike officer, she has patrolled Wellesley Square, Hills, and the Lower Falls areas of town during the day on a police mountain bike, according to Wellesley Police.

She has also served as the department’s domestic violence officer, following up on domestic violence-related investigations and victim assistance. She specialized in security assessment surveys that the department offers free of charge to Wellesley residents and businesses.

Poirier has not been a stranger to the Wellesley Public Schools. She has taught the department’s PRIDE program to fifth grade students, which focuses on teaching children how to make good decisions, recognize bullying, and learning how to be safe on the internet. During the last school year, she worked with the schools on active shooter training and emergency evacuation drills.

Poirier’s new role has not been defined yet, but Pilecki told the selectmen Tuesday that he expects her to spend most of her time in the elementary school and some time in the middle school. Rosenberg will focus on the high school with some time at the middle school.

Image: File Photo