HAMILTON, Michigan — The first day of school is an exciting time for most.
At the bus stop, students will notice the air is a touch more brisk. The trees will soon shed their summer coat. Frost will begin to replace morning dew. The new season is officially on its way.
But for Deputy Joe Knapp, the first day only signifies an end.
Knapp, a School Resource Officer, raised five kids in the Hamilton Community School system. He's also been the JV football coach for 8 years.
After 25 years at the Allegan County Sheriff's Office and 2.5 years with Hamilton Community Schools, he announced this one would be his last. He retires on Thursday.
Knapp has been in law enforcement since he was 18. In his decades of service, he's spent a bulk of it working with kids.
Though he will continue to patrol with the Allegan County Sheriff's Office until September 15, he says a tough goodbye to many of the students that helped make Hamilton feel like home.
"Just seeing the kids in the hallway, talking to kids, building relationship with kids. That's what being an SRO is all about," he said. "Just the interactions with the kids on a day-to-day basis that I'll miss the most."
An SRO acts as a link between police and the school system. They help set up emergency plans, make sure schools are safe and train students and staff how to prepare for a crisis.
But the job isn't what made all those years worth it for Knapp.
"It was knowing that I made a difference in community and in the county," he said, "the high-fives and fist bumps every morning when I came in to school."
His retirement was celebrated in a similar fashion. After lunch, the entire cafeteria gave Knapp fist bumps, high-fives and hugs to say goodbye.
His family came to see it all, which caused some tears for Knapp as he hugged his grandchildren.
"It's some joy, some sadness," he smiled.
