With the start of the new school year, Detective Garry Crake of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department took up his new post as school liaison for both Clarkston and Renaissance High School.
Crake, 43, has been withe sheriff’s department for 13 years in various locations, most recently in Springfield Township.
‘I’ve been in Springfield on midnights for the last year and I was in Rochester Hills before that. I’ve been all over the place,? said Crake.
According to Crake, he replaces Det. Darren Ofiara, who took up another position in the county.
Crake said his name was in the running for a school liaison posistion in the past, but this is his first time working with the schools.
‘I like working with kids. I get along with them well. Most kids are good, I find,? said Crake.
As school liaison officer, Crake’s responsibilities include monitoring the parking lot and responding to any accidents that may occur there. In addition, he watches for drugs or cigarettes in the schools and handles any discipline issues that involve criminal matters. Crake works security detail for sporting events, along with other sheriff’s deputies.
According to Crake, his hours are split between CHS and RHS depending of where he is needed. His office is located at CHS.
Things are still new, but Crake said he’s already spoken to the students at group assemblies to let them know that if they have any problems, his door is open.
Crakes admits time is needed for both himself and the students to get comfortable with each other.
‘It’s obviously going to take some time for them to get comfortable in school and once they do that, hopefully they’ll get more comfortable with me,? Crake said. ‘I’m getting used to it. I got a good group of people I work with here.?
Crake said he thinks seeing a uniformed officer in the school building can be both good and bad.
‘They know there’s a cop in here everyday, that makes them think twice if they’re going to bring drugs to school or something like that…On the other hand, if I was in plain clothes, it might make them more comfortable to approach me,? explained Crake.
In addition to his new responsibilities as school liaison, Crake said he will continue his work as a detective with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. Comparatively speaking, Crake said his newest role has a larger workload.
‘There’s definitely more work in this job. There’s 1,850 kids in this school (CHS). You’re not only a cop, you’re a counselor, you’re a mentor, you’re all that in one and it’s a lot different… You get to deal with the public a lot more in this job, which I like. I’m good with people,? said Crake.