Flynn returns to Willamina schools in a new role

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals staff writer

Grand Ronde Tribal Police Officer JJ Flynn has deep roots in the local community. His wife, Justine Flynn, is a Tribal member and the Tribe’s Youth Education program manager.

Both grew up in Willamina and the couple recently bought their second home. Flynn also coaches baseball and football at local schools.

When an opportunity came to serve as the Willamina School District’s School Resource Officer, Flynn didn’t hesitate to apply for the job. School Resource Officers, known as SROs, are police officers who work in elementary, middle and high schools. Their primary duty is to collaborate with school administrators, security staff and faculty to ensure schools are safe places for students to learn.

“It’s something that our department has been working on for a while and it seemed like a good fit because I know a lot of the kids from sports and I grew up here,” Flynn says.  

Additionally, Flynn’s mother, Lynn Shore, serves as the district’s nutrition services supervisor, a position she has held for many years.

“Last week when I was at the schools, they were short-staffed so my mom had me help out at lunch,” Flynn says.

Serving school lunches probably doesn’t fit the typical image of a police officer for most people and that’s fine with Flynn.

“I don’t want people to see officers as threatening,” he says. “I’d like to help change the mindset of people so they see we are a resource in the community, not just running around with our guns.”

As a baseball and football coach, Flynn also has the advantage of already knowing several students and having built a certain level of trust.

“Since I grew up in this community, I’m very aware of what it’s like here,” he says. “People who are outsiders can’t relate as well.”

Flynn has only been on the job a few weeks, but so far his favorite aspect is the excitement that elementary school students greet him with, much more than he received as a patrol officer for almost four years.

“Their reaction is to hug me,” he says.

As the father of two young girls, Juniper, 1, and Maple, 3, Flynn takes it all in stride.

“The thing I enjoy most is talking to the kids at lunchtime,” he says.

Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight said that the department had been considering a school resource officer position for some time.

“With (approximately) 40 percent of Willamina students being Tribal members, it’s good for us to be involved in everyday activities and also active in the community,” McKnight says. “I have always believed our number one resource as a Tribe is our kids and our Elders, and it’s good to be able to communicate with our kids while they are growing up and help them understand the police are a part of everyday activities, not just for when there is a crisis.”

McKnight says he thought Flynn would be ideal for the position due to his understanding and history in the community.

“He is very well connected with the sports he coaches here and is just very good with the kids overall,” McKnight says. “One of the hardest things for an SRO is building a rapport with kids and he already has that.”

McKnight adds, “SROs are not meant to be an armed security presence, scaring kids into behaving, but rather educators, informal counselors and law enforcement officers who are part of the schools in which they serve. At each school, the SRO becomes a dependable, appreciated member of the administration who kids look to for advice, support and safety.”

Flynn’s position is being paid for through a grant that allowed McKnight to hire another officer position, which freed up Flynn to work in the schools.

Willamina School District Superintendent Carrie Zimbrick says Flynn is an “excellent fit.”

“JJ is a familiar face and knows the community well,” Zimbrick says. “He is well-liked and respected. Overall, his presence gives us all another layer of security and allows students to interact with law enforcement in a positive way more frequently, particularly if their families have experienced trauma due to incarceration.”