When Officer Oscar DeLira was growing up, he didn’t trust police. Now that he's an officer, he is working to build trust between students and law enforcement.
“It’s hard to break from that mindset,” the Harlandale graduate said. “The main reason why I became what I became is because it’s hard being from certain areas and pushing through to make it. I want these kids to make it.”
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps going on his fifth year with the San Antonio ISD Police Department, the officer at Lanier High School tries to use his position to help students break the very mindset that he was caught in.
“I chose a school district because I wanted to work directly with kids,” DeLira said. “That’s where most of my influence was growing up — at school.”
DeLira worked three years at Rhodes Middle School and is now at Lanier High School, continuing to serve the students he mentored through middle school. Each morning he takes the long way to his office, walking through the main campus so he can greet the students and they know he is there.
At lunch, he’s out again, monitoring.
“I like to put myself in main areas where there’s a lot of traffic,” he said.
Even beyond his normal 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. schedule, DeLira will pick up extra shifts and will voluntarily go to athletic events, just to be there for the student athletes. He’s also made goodie bags for the varsity athletes for each sport, to encourage and reward them for their grades and level of play achieved to compete at the varsity level.
He gives back a lot to the community during the Halloween season, donating candy to the SAISD Police Department Trunk or Treat and dressing up to entertain the students in the community.
“He continues to encourage students to participate in community programs, most recently holding yet another competition for students to donate candy for young trick or treaters in the area,” Sergeant Christina Houston said.
DeLira worked with a social studies teacher and donated the prizes for both the class and individual student that brought in the most candy.
It’s all part of his goal to work with the students to be part of the same team.
“We’re trying to build a relationship with these kids,” he said. “We’re here trying to get them to trust us, and trying to get them to trust cops in general. If we start getting involved with the kids, it will break the cycle.”
Based on the amount of candy the students are bringing in, it just might be working.
“Students genuinely care about him and appreciate that he is always there to help and support them through the good and bad times,” Sergeant Rene Cano said.