For Lawrence High’s school resource officer Steve Austin, the last day of school before spring break was bittersweet.
It marked Austin’s last day after four years as the school resource officer. He is preparing to be deployed to Iraq for one year with the New Jersey Army National Guard later this year.
In addition to being a Lawrence Township police officer, Austin is a lieutenant colonel in the New Jersey Army National Guard. He is the deputy commanding officer with the 42nd Regional Support Group, which is based in Somerset.
Meanwhile, Lawrence High School students stood against the walls and clapped their hands in appreciation as Austin took a final walk through the halls as the school day ended on April 11.
Austin and Lawrence High School Principal David Adam began their walk through the hallways led by students in the Lawrence High School Red Scare marching band’s drumline.
Students reached out to hug Austin, while others gave him a fist bump. A couple of girls began to cry as the police officer passed them.
At the end of a hallway, there was a balloon with the message “You’re No. 1.” Students also showed off posters with messages that said “We will miss you” and “Thank You Officer Austin.”
One poster featured a sketch of a girl with tears running down her face that stated “We won’t be at ease until you return.”
Austin walked through the corridors on the first floor of the high school and climbed the stairs to the second floor. He came back down to the first floor, wrapping up his final walk.
He walked past the auditorium, the gym and the main office to front entrance, where he was presented with a poster signed by the members of the Lawrence High School Class of 2025.
As he walked out of the entrance door, he was greeted with a shower of confetti and a line of Lawrence Township police officers. Fire engines, an ambulance and police cars were parked outside, and one of the fire engines sounded its horn.
“This is Lawrence,” Austin said. “It has been a great privilege to be the school resource officer. I want to thank Principal David Adam for letting me be me – to be the school resource officer that I wanted to be.”
He thanked Interim Police Chief Kevin Reading Jr. and former police chief Christopher Longo for having confidence in him to be the school resource officer.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Austin said.
As the school resource officer, Austin ensures that students and staff are safe. He also leads the school’s Project Prom DUI/Distracted Driving program.
“Being here is a special place,” he said. “We call it ‘Cardinal Nation.’ I don’t want to leave Lawrence High School because the school resource officer job has become a part of me, but this is what soldiers do. Those who wear the uniform make sacrifices to keep the homeland safe.
“After 20 years in the military and 10 years as a police officer, I can say with 100 percent assurance, it has been the greatest privilege and honor in my life to be the school resource officer.”
