Jeffrey Desena, Class of 1996, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? I am currently the District Resource Officer for all of the public schools in the Town of Watertown. I spend the majority of my day at Watertown High School but I also teach D.A.R.E. at Swift Middle School. The program is geared towards helping kids make smart decisions and really go over their options prior to high school. In my spare time I coach youth soccer in town for WAYS.

How'd you get here? It was a long road, to be honest. I graduated from WHS in 1996 and had no clue what career path I wanted to follow. I attended Naugatuck Valley Community College initially for Business Management. I felt like something was missing and took a few Sociology and Criminal Justice courses which really deepened my interest in Law Enforcement. I began taking police tests and was hired by the Town of Watertown. Over my 18 years here, I’ve worked night and day shift patrol, did a temporary Detective Bureau stint, and have been Union Vice President and Treasurer. The School Resource Officer position was posted in 2016 and it is something I always wanted to do. I felt like I would be a good fit because even though I had a great family growing up, I often found myself in trouble due to bad decision making and poor friend choices. I can relate to the kids and give them constructive criticism based on my experiences. I have been amazed at their trust in me and there is not a day that goes by where I do not go to work with a smile. It can feel like a burden when a lot of kids count on you, but I love it and would not have it any other way. I feel like I found my true niche in my profession.

What are your goals? My future goals are to continue working with kids, and trying to be a positive influence. When I retire I would ultimately like to move down south. The hotter the better.

What has been your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge has been trying to find myself within my career. Although I love policing, I always felt like something was missing being on patrol. A lot of your interactions with people happen in negative situations. Once in a while, you feel like you make a difference, but a lot of the time you have to uphold the law and be stern. As District Resource Officer, it me an opportunity to do the community policing I absolutely love to do.

What has been your happiest moment?: When kids tell me they appreciate what I do for them.

Advice for WHS Students? Just be yourself. High School is about finding yourself. I feel when you are being yourself - that is true happiness.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Listen to Mom and Dad! They were right.