After six years that have included handling everything from student deaths, active shooters, and a presidential visit, Colorado College Campus Resource Officer Jason Newton is getting a promotion. At the end of the year, he will leave his post as CRO and return to full-time duty with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Officer Newton’s arrival as CRO in 2010 helped bridge the gaps between CC students, city police, and the local community. It also made campus a safer place. In just the past year, the number of burglaries from residential buildings on campus has decreased by 90 percent, and bike thefts have declined by 80 percent.
“Working on the CC campus has been my dream job,” said Newton. “It’s been rewarding. I love the students. I love the campus. But for my career, it’s important for me to move around. I need new challenges.”
Marty Toland is stepping in as the new Campus Resource Officer. Toland currently works as a police officer in Gold Hill. Coming out as the top candidate of an interview process, he will shadow Newton over the next few months.
Newton promises that students will be in good hands with Toland.
“He won’t be as funny or as good-looking as me, but he will do a good job,” he said. Toland’s wife is a CC alum, which means he understands the stresses brought upon by the block schedule.
Newton became a familiar face around campus, and brought student safety to a new level. He is credited for improving CC’s emergency preparedness and helping students understand the importance of being good neighbors and hosting safe parties.
Newton says working with CC students has helped him develop a new policing style that he hopes rubs off on his future colleagues.
“The college environment brought out the guardian in me, rather than the warrior. I just want to be there for students,” said Newton. “There is negative attention around police work. Police don’t always need to be tough and heavy-handed to get people’s respect. Building relationships between the police and the community is something we need more of.”
Newton says he will still be seen on campus. Even so, students will be sad to see Officer Newton leave his position.
“Officer Newton has talked to our house a few times and he’s been a great liaison by easing the tension between the school and the community,” said senior Brad Green.
“My first impression of him was that he was competent and funny, and he definitely made me feel safe at school,” said first-year Sophie Redpath.
When asked if he had any last words for us CC students, Officer Newton said,
“I’m leaving, so we need to have a big goodbye party.”
Officer Jason Newton is well deserving of that goodbye party. He’s kept a good eye on us Tigers over the years, and we thank him for that.