Things to Know from SRO Joe

Hamilton Community Schools School Resource Officer, Deputy Joe Knapp, is responsible for district safety and security. Since being hired in 2022, Deputy Knapp has implemented several plans and policies in accordance with state laws to keep our students and staff safe.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, a new challenge has emerged that is important for us to address as a school community: the rise of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes. Deepfakes are videos or photos that have been altered using technology to make people appear to say or do things they never did. Creating deepfakes can be easier than most people think, presenting a growing challenge in distinguishing between what is real and what is not. As your partners in education and child development, we want to equip you with knowledge and tools to help you protect your children from this rapidly growing threat.

Awareness and Vigilance: It’s important to understand what deepfakes are and the potential risks they pose to help you spot them and keep your family safer online. Deepfakes can be used to create false representations of individuals, including students, potentially leading to misinformation and harm. Sometimes, people use them to create fake news or bully others by making it look like they’re doing or saying things that aren’t true or real.

Talk and Share: One of the best things you can do is talk with your kids about what they see on the internet. Ask them about the videos and photos they come across and if they think they are real or not. It’s not just about telling them what’s right or wrong; it’s about helping them think and decide for themselves.

Useful Tips and Help: We have some great tips and tools for you and your kids at OASSN.org. These include guidance on how to identify deepfakes, tips for safer internet usage, and where to report suspicious content. These resources are designed to empower you and your children to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and caution.

We understand that this is a complex and potentially concerning issue. By working togther and engaging in conversations, we can create a safer and more positive digital environment for our students and families.

Thank you for entrusting your children with us. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly. Go Hawkeyes!

Deputy Joe Knapp
Hamilton Community Schools SRO
Allegan County Sheriff's Department

Safety & Security Information

Outdoor Athletics Safety Plan

Operation Parent Free Webinars

Snapchat Safety Checklist for Parents

Ottawa Area Secure Schools Network Resources

About Deputy Knapp

My wife Lisa and I moved to the Hamilton school district from West Ottawa schools in 2006, because Lisa and I grew up in a small town and school in Ravenna. We wanted the small town feel for our kids growing up. All of our kids are graduates of Hamilton in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.

I am a graduate of the Grand Rapids Community College police program with an associates degree in Criminal Justice. I have had the privilege of working for the Sheriff's Department since 1996 and wanted to move into Allegan County where I was working. Lisa was a stay-at-home mom until all the kids were in school full-time.

I played football overseas in Europe while serving in the United States Air Force for the Luxemburg Lions football team for three years. I joined the Air Force out of high school as a Law Enforcement Specialist and served for five years, two state side and three in Germany. We won two Belgian National Championships with the Luxemburg Lions while I played left tackle. My coaching career started at West Ottawa Middle School in 1994, 95-96 at Holland middle school 8th grade head coach. 1997 to 2015, I served as an assistant football coach at Hope College coaching defensive backs, defensive line, and tight ends/offensive line for most of my time. I was also named the junior varsity head football coach at Hope College from 2012 to 2015.

I have been coaching at Hamilton since 2016 as a lower level head coach, defensive line, quarterback and running backs coach for the last three years at Hamilton.

Back to safety and security, I have always been involved in school safety with the Sheriff's Department since the Columbine Shooting in 1999, and am the Sheriff's Department Lead instructor for all active shooter training for schools, churches and businesses throughout the county. I have a passion for kids helping them grow, try to give them positive interactions with Law Enforcement. One of my pet peeves is when a parent tells their kids do this or I'll have the police arrest you take you to jail, which makes kids fear police and we want kids to not be afraid of law enforcement. I think being in Hamilton Community Schools as a School Resource Officer (SRO). I will be able to foster relationships with kids and not make them fear us. We are normal people with a very important job in society.

I am very excited that I am the Hamilton Community Schools SRO and am excited for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, so I can continue to build relationships with kids of all ages throughout the district/community and make our school district/community a safe place for kids to attend. My goal is to make us a PREPARED but NOT PARANOID school district/community. Go Hawkeyes!