RUMFORD — Students at Mountain Valley High School no longer ask why a police officer is in the school. They know he’s likely there as part of an outreach project.

“They are used to police officers being part of the community,” Assistant Principal Chris Decker said. “Students are very comfortable with them.”

The newest police officer to chat with students at Mountain Valley, as well as in many other schools in Oxford County, is Rumford police Sgt. Doug Maifeld.

For years, he has organized the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for fifth- or sixth-graders. Now, his uniform has changed to light brown with the insignia of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office for several hours each week when he enters schools.

Oxford County received just over $42,000 in federal money to pay for Maifeld to go into the schools to chat with students, to conduct iris scanning, and to help prevent violence.

“I consider myself the county school resource officer,” Maifeld said.

He is responsible for visiting 31 schools, mostly in the West Paris/Rumford-Mexico/Bethel areas, as a resource officer.

He also maintains his full-time job with the Rumford Police Department.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant said via email that Oxford County has been collecting and computerizing local school and hospital disaster plans, and building layouts for quite some time. The grant money received will not only fund Maifeld for the next 12 months, but will also provide communications equipment for the county, and fund iris scanning.

Maifeld said he enjoys going into the schools.

He sometimes reads books to youngsters, conducts safety programs, or speaks during the after-school program.

“I like interacting with the kids. They are our future. I do the best I can to point them in the right direction,” he said.

Last week, he was at a round table at Waterford Memorial Elementary School, as well as talking with students during lunch at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

Zach Moulton, a senior at Mountain Valley, said he feels safer with an officer at the school every so often.

“I know people in school and how mad they can get,” he said.

Decker also believes that having an officer in the school or associated with the D.A.R.E. program helps ensure the safety of youngsters.

“We’ve had very positive relationships with local and regional law enforcement,” Decker said.

Maifeld said when he was young, students didn’t see an officer unless there was trouble.

“I want them to feel comfortable talking to a police officer if they need help,” he said.

The grant is part of the emergency action plans all schools must have, he said.

eadams@sunjournal.com