MONTAGUE – Officer Brandon TenHove played football for a bit during his days as a student at Fruitport High School, but he was more a mild-mannered, “fly under the radar” type of guy.
He took up drama, but he’s not the type looking to create it.
Officer TenHove, 34, is as even-keel as they come. It’s the ideal disposition for his position: He’s in his first academic year as School Resource Officer for Montague Area Public Schools’ new SRO program. It follows three years spent as an officer for Montague Police Department.
“He is very kind, compassionate, and understanding when working with students to process difficult situations,” Montague High School principal Christy Thommen said. “He does not approach students in an aggressive manner but tries to work through things logically and in a peaceful manner.”
Montague police chief Richard Johnson said the addition of an SRO at Montague Area Public Schools had been on the horizon for a number of years. When Michigan State Police offered a grant funding to spearhead the effort, Montague Police Department and Montague Area Public Schools knew the time was right to move forward with the SRO program.
Chief Johnson said that the police department and school district have had an excellent working relationship for a number of years. The SRO position takes that relationship to the next level, according to Chief Johnson. It provides young people the opportunity to interact with a police officer in a positive manner by building relationships, reinforcing positive behaviors, and connecting with students.
“As an officer, he is alert, diligent, and has a desire to learn everything he can about law enforcement. He has a strong public service focus. These characteristics make him an excellent School Resource Officer,” Chief Johnson said about Officer TenHove. “(He) is a quiet guy with a lot of life experience. His personality makes him approachable and non-judgmental — just what kids need.”
Officer TenHove is married to wife Jonna. They have no children. He keeps things low-key outside of work, hanging out with friends when time allows.
Also a firefighter and EMT, Officer TenHove’s duties as an SRO at Montague include assisting the school with emergency planning and safety and helping with anything beyond the scope of the school, such as criminal and safety issues and just being a presence within the schools.
Photos courtesy of Montague Area Public Schools
Montague Police Department has participated in “Ride with Pride” since 2019. It’s a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, community members, and school districts throughout Muskegon County. The program’s goal is to encourage safe behaviors among youth and to acknowledge those making positive choices.
Officer TenHove is manager of the “Ride with Pride” program at Montague High School and he hopes to expand it to the middle school and elementary school in the future.
“Already this year, the number of students participating in Ride with Pride at Montague High School has increased and we’re excited to reward successful participants at the end of the school year with a plethora of prizes, and the grand prize: A car,” Chief Johnson said.
“The police department is actively seeking Community Partners to encourage Montague Area Public Schools students. Contact the police department for more information about how you can participate.”
TenHove said the SRO role at Montague had been in the works for a few years, but COVID-19 pushed it back. He added, recently the State of Michigan provided a grant opportunity that allows for funding an SRO position with minimal cost to the school.
TenHove said it was an easy transition going from patrol to the schools because he had already been working sports events for the past couple years.
“I believe it is necessary that we make changes in law enforcement and learn and grow as a part of the community,” TenHove said. “The best way to achieve this is to have a connection with the future of the community.
“The school and I have great communication on what they expect or would like to see and have been open to my thoughts on areas that I feel are important.”
TenHove said that in school, he wears his duty belt and vest but generally the rest of his ensemble consists of a polo shirt and khakis rather than the traditional blue dress uniform.
TenHove covers all the schools in the Montague district and he acknowledged it’s a lot of work, but everyone understands that he’s not there to fix all of the problems. He wants to work with others to address the problems.
TenHove said he hasn’t encountered a negative interaction yet in the schools. He said some students may have been apprehensive at first about a police officer in the schools, but that calmed down when they realized there’s no difference in the way the school day runs. In fact, now there is somebody dedicated to the schools for safety and to be used as a resource if needed.
Thommen said there’s a general consensus that Montague’s school buildings are more “safe” and that students feel more comfortable approaching Officer TenHove and asking for help with tough situations.
Having Officer TenHove in the school buildings daily helps to create a more proactive environment rather than a reactive one, Thommen said.
“He is a favorite at lunchtime with students for candy, prizes, and has even been known to shoot a hoop or two,” Thommen said. “He has presented at staff meetings regarding building safety and works closely with the administration team on continuous improvements of protocols throughout the district.
“This is something we would like to continue doing as this proactive approach is helping to foster a new climate and culture within our district.”
Photos courtesy of Montague Area Public Schools
