New officers assigned to SRO/Dare for Warsaw Community Schools

(Photo supplied/Warsaw Police Department)

With school looking quite different this academic year, there will also be a few differences with Warsaw Police Department’s SRO officers in Warsaw Community Schools (WCS).

Officer Wayne Wilkie is new to the School Resource Officer (SRO) position, but a veteran to law enforcement.  Not only a veteran to our department, he is a military veteran as well.  Prior to joining Warsaw Police Department (WPD), Wilkie served in the United States Marine Corps.  He has been a WPD officer for the past 19 years.

Officer Wilkie has spent his law enforcement career in the uniform patrol division, where he has obtained a variety of certifications along with instructor certifications.  Currently, he is an instructor for firearms, pepper spray, less-lethal munitions, and distraction devices.  Wilkie served several years on the Warsaw Dive Team and still serves as a Team Leader for WPD’s Emergency Response Team (E.R.T.), where he also serves as a certified sniper.  Additionally, he holds certification as a police motorcycle operator, a specialty unit that had served the city for the past 15 years.

Officer Wilkie still serves in the Indiana Army National Guard.  He spent his first 11 years stationed in Warsaw before transferring to Logansport due to a promotion.  He serves as the Company First Sergeant for Bravo Company, 2-151 Infantry Battalion.

Sergeant Lewis Fuller is also new to the School Resource Officer (SRO) D.A.R.E. position.  Sergeant Fuller has been with the Warsaw Police Department for 11 years.  He will serve as the shift supervisor for the SRO’s assigned to WCS.  Prior, Fuller was a day shift supervisor who often assisted in the training of newly hired officers as their Field Training Officer (FTO).  He currently is one of the department’s physical tactics instructors and a member of WPD’s Emergency Response Team (E.R.T.)  Fuller will be primarily assigned to Lakeview Middle School, while taking on the role of D.A.R.E. officer teaching at Lincoln, Leesburg, Harrison, and Jefferson Elementary Schools.  We are proud to highlight that Sgt. Fuller recently completed his 2-week training course to become a D.A.R.E. officer and concluded that program at top of his class!  In his spare time, Fuller coach’s youth sports.  He looks forward to furthering his connection with youth in this new role as a D.A.R.E. officer for WCS.

Wilkie and Fuller will be joining returning SRO’s Corporal Brandon Zartman and Corporal Rogelio “Roy” Navarro III.  Officer Navarro continues to oversee the D.A.R.E. program.  He has been with Warsaw Police Department since October 2014.

Corporal Brandon Zartman has been a Warsaw Police Officer for 20 years.  The first 16 years were spent serving the city on third shift.  Four years ago, he began working as a full time SRO.  Zartman is a Field Training Officer and is in his 2nd year with a K-9 partner.  K-9 Bubka is the department’s English Cocker Spaniel who is 7 years old.  He is a single purpose dog trained in narcotics and tracking.

Warsaw Police Department’s SRO’s are excited about the 2020-21 school year.  They look forward to working diligently to protect and mentor our children.