Kids at risk a top priority for Fairview-Clayton Park Community Response Officer

If you ask Const. George Farmer what he sees as the most pressing need in the Fairview-Clayton Park neighbourhoods he patrols as Community Response Officer, his first thought turns to kids.
"Programs to help children at risk in this community could use more support," Farmer said.
It's no surprise Farmer should think of young people first. Looking out for kids is second nature to the Sydney-born police officer.
"I'm a big old softie for kids," Farmer laughs.
Farmer's desire to help youngsters in trouble or in danger of falling through the cracks developed early in his own life. He learned compassion for kids in his Whitney Pier neighbourhood where he grew up watching his family and neighbours organize sports teams and social events for children in the area.
He was taught from a young age to give back to the community, something Farmer's tried to follow his entire life.
As an adult, Farmer worked for a time in group homes working directly with young people before becoming a police officer.
In a strange way, it was an encounter with a group of young people during a police ride-along in Sydney that convinced him to become a cop.
A call came in to investigate a disturbance in progress. Farmer said watching the officers respond to the call and deal with the teenagers involved was all it took to convince him to become a police officer.
"From that moment I was hooked," he said.
Farmer said he enjoys being a problem-solving police officer and relishes the opportunity to help people in tangible ways in their own communities.
Community Response Officers, or CROs, have that opportunity more than most police officers because of their unique position in the community.
"We're right there where people live and work and we can work with them on whatever issue affects them," he said.
Farmer has just recently been assigned to the Fairview/Clayton Park area and has already immersed himself in the community.
One of the big challenges he sees is getting to know the growing immigrant population in the area and convincing people from different cultures to view police as a positive part of the community.
Farmer is also eager to work with store owners and residents in the area to minimize the number of thefts from vehicles, particularly in the shopping districts.
"That's the good thing about this job," Farmer said. "It's something new all the time. I get to work with the community and get to branch out in many different directions. It's a challenge, but I say 'Let's go with it.'"

Halifax Regional Police is committed to working with communities and residents to stamp out crime and improving the quality of life in HRM. This column will highlight some of the work of the police in your district.