Standing at the back of the cafeteria, Officer Gregory Fuentes waves to and greets students as they walk into school each morning.
“Unfortunately, most people only interact with law enforcement in a stressful or negative situation. I love getting to be part of a school community where I can be supportive and meet new people,” Officer Fuentes said. “I love to see our students succeed and get to be a small part of their journey. Whether it is a win or a loss, I want to be an encouraging smile or a supportive high five.”
Officer Fuentes became a police officer four years ago and spent two and a half years at Linda Jobe Middle School before joining Legacy this year.
“I would say my favorite thing so far is being able to see all the students I had at Jobe,” Officer Fuentes said. “Most of them were happy to hear that I was now at Legacy. It makes it special to see student accomplishments from seventh grade until now.”
Officer Edric Ruffin, who works alongside Officer Fuentes, said Officer Fuentes benefits from his previous experience at Jobe.
“Officer Fuentes’ experience at Jobe has made his transition to Legacy virtually seamless because of his familiarity with a lot of our underclassmen,” Officer Ruffin said. “He has not only been able to smoothly transition, but he is a friendly face for Jobe students and all students at Legacy.”
Officer Ruffin hopes that together, he and Officer Fuentes can create a safe, welcoming environment for the MISD community.
“My goal is for us to continue to learn and grow individually,” Officer Ruffin said. “As a team, I hope we can do our best to support Legacy staff and students, ensuring a safe learning environment.”
Officer Fuentes said one of his big responsibilities consists of helping students become more independent each day.
“I love being able to talk with students about real-life issues like safety, decision-making, or even social media,” Officer Fuentes said. “I want to help students navigate situations before the situations become bigger problems. I believe in giving students the tools to make smart choices.”
Officer Fuentes aims to get rid of the negative perception of police officers, starting with teenagers in schools.
“We are here to protect and serve,” Officer Fuentes said. “I hope to build positive relationships with the staff and students of Legacy and be an ear to anyone who may need it.”
