New school year marks new start for Hellgate’s SRO
Photo of Randy Krastel. Photo Credits Evyn Good
A new year marks a new start for students and staff alike. For Hellgate’s freshmen and School Resource Officer (SRO), it marks a beginning in a new setting: High school. The new SRO, Randy Krastel, talked about how he is adapting to his new position as well as who he is as a person.
Q: How old are you Randy?
A: “I am 45 years young.”
Q: How long have you been working in the MCPS school system?
A: “I worked as a SRO last year for the elementary and Middle schools and I requested Hellgate when that position became available.”
Q: How long have you been an SRO?
A: “Just 2 years.”
Q: What did you do before becoming an SRO?
A: “I started working with the Missoula City Police department 18 years ago. 3 years before I became an SRO I was a part of the business improvement team, and the 13 years before that I was a patrol officer. As a part of the business improvement team, I was around downtown and responded to any disturbances that happened with the businesses that are downtown and any river trails that were down there.”
Q: Do you enjoy working at Hellgate?
A: “I really do, it is my favorite job that I have ever had.”
Are you hoping to stay here a while? “As long as I am allowed I will. I really love working here a lot. If they ever pulled me from this position I would just retire.”
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Oh man, we are getting into it now. My favorite movie is a baseball movie called ‘The Natural’’ with Robert Redford.”
What do you do for fun outside of school? “ My two biggest hobbies are gardening, I bet you didn’t expect that, and fishing.”
Q: What’s your favorite kind of music to listen to?
A: “I listen to 105.9 on the radio. I know most people don’t listen to the radio anymore, but that is mostly what I listen to. It is the best hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but I also have quite the stash of classical music. I was born in 1977 and my family listened to nothing but classic rock and I still listen to it to this day.”
Randy loves being here and loves when people stop into his office and say hi, so as members of Hellgate,. His office is located right next to the activities desk and across from the coffee cart, so whenever you have a chance, let’s welcome him by saying hi to him when we have the chance.
Hello! I am Evyn Good and I am a junior at Hellgate and it is my first year writing for the Hellgate Lance. I hope to write feature stories and opinion,...
