Staff Spotlight: Batavia Police and High School Resource Officer Justin Howe
by Xander Lundblad, Batavia High School junior/BPS101 Communications Dept. intern
Batavia Police Officer/Batavia High School Resource Officer Justin Howe is a one-of-a-kind. He patrols the high school and works to ensure that students and staff are safe, and does so in a manner that puts everyone at ease. Officer Howe has been working in the Batavia Police Department for 19 years and is now in his third year at Batavia High School. He is someone you should know.
Justin Howe, Batavia Police Officer/Batavia High School Resource Officer.
How long have you been in the police department?
This upcoming January will start my 19th year with the Batavia Police Department. I was hired by the Batavia Police Department in the middle of my senior year at Northern Illinois University, making BPD the one and only Department I have been employed. Over the course of my career, I have spent most of my time in patrol; however, I have been privileged to be selected to investigations on two occasions. This is my second time being assigned as a school resource officer. My first assignment was at Rotolo Middle School about 10 years ago.
At what age did you want to become a police officer?
That’s a difficult question to answer. As early as elementary school I thought about becoming a police officer to catch the ‘bad guys,’ but as I grew older, I often thought about other careers. In middle school, I thought about becoming an attorney. In high school, I thought about becoming a physical therapist, professional sports trainer, or architect. In junior college, I began to focus my studies on becoming an emergency room or pediatric nurse. My course studies led me to take a heavy load of science and psychology courses. While I thought about a career in law enforcement, I stayed away from taking law enforcement classes because I wanted a career different than my family and friends. However, as I began my senior year of college, I accompanied a friend who was too shy to go to the police orientation on his own. At that point, I decided to apply and test for a few police departments. Within a couple months of testing, I was simultaneously offered a job at both the Batavia Police Department and the West Chicago Police Department. At the time, it was a difficult decision to decline the West Chicago offer because I had an opportunity to work with my cousin. Fast forward 19 years, and I am extremely happy to be where I am at today.
How many years have you been serving Batavia High School?
This 2018-19 school year marks my third year working as a school resource officer at Batavia High School. When I was originally assigned to work in the high school, it was a three-year assignment without the opportunity for an extension. Thankfully, things have changed at my department and officers/detectives can stay beyond the original term of assignment. I would love the opportunity to stay on as the school resource officer at Batavia High School. Go Dawgs!
Do you work a shift outside of the school on weekends?
During the school year, I am not assigned to work over the weekends unless there is a school function like dances and sporting events. When school is not in session, I do get reassigned back to the patrol division. Typically, over the summer, my scheduled days off fall during the week, so I regularly work shifts over those weekends.
Funniest story from working at BHS?
The funniest story didn’t actually happen at BHS, but it stemmed from BHS. I try to stay current and involved in what’s going on with BHS students, so recently I helped deliver “Student of the Month” yard signs to the respective award winners’ homes. As we arrived at the first home, I observed a neighbor reversing out of her driveway looking at me in my uniform and squad car with a familiar, “Oh my gosh. What did my neighbor do?” I immediately approached her vehicle and explained the positive reason for our presence. The neighbor lady seemed relieved and I never thought twice about it. Until … we arrived back to Batavia High School only to find out a neighbor called the school to verify why there was a police officer in her neighborhood. 🙂
Scariest incident you have encountered?
About a decade ago, when I was working patrol over a holiday weekend, I initiated a traffic stop on a older model, four-door Cadillac with black tinted windows on Rt. 31 near the Westside Cemetery. It’s not a well-lit roadway, so I activate my overhead red and blue lights, spotlight, and takedown lights to illuminate the vehicle that was registered in Arkansas. As the Cadillac pulled to the curbside lane of traffic, a second vehicle that was traveling in front of the Cadillac also stopped. Upon exiting my patrol vehicle, I started walking up to speak to the driver of the Cadillac when a large man—six-foot six-inches, about 350 pounds—exited the vehicle in front of the Cadillac. This man began to yell at me. I direct him to sit back in his vehicle, but he refused. Next, I walked up to the rear passenger window of the Cadillac and noticed a third car drive slowly past me. The driver of the third vehicle wouldn’t take his eyes off me as he veered slowly into the next lane of traffic closer to me than I felt comfortable. I radioed for back up as the third vehicle passed my squad car. Shortly after passing, this third vehicle made his first U-turn and is now driving back toward my location with his eyes firmly fixed on me as if I was a target. The large man becomes increasingly upset and continues to yell at me. Additional officers cannot get to my location fast enough. My heart is pounding! Before long, the third vehicle passes my location but has now made a second U-turn and is stopped directly behind my squad car. I’m now sandwiched between the Cadillac and car number three with a driver who is solely focused on me. Tactically, I’m in a terrible position and frantically requested more units to my location. Eventually, I made my way behind the third car in an effort to keep everyone and all the vehicles in direct sight. Feeling as though I was about to get ambushed, I yelled at the driver of the third car to leave. He casually does leave before my backup arrives. Soon after, additional police units arrived on the scene. With some persuasion, the large man entered his vehicle, and leaves the scene. I made contact with the driver of the Cadillac who was wanted on a warrant out of Arkansas. Unfortunately, the warrant was non-extraditable so he was released without any charges. Although no one was arrested and no one was injured, the feeling of being ambushed has stuck with me. It was one of my most frightening calls to date.
Do you feel you have a good relationship with the students and staff?
Just by the nature of my job and the uniform I wear, there are people who do not like or trust someone in my position. Some might have good reasons for their mistrust of the badge, however, it’s my goal to regain their trust and dispel some of the negative connotations of men and women in law enforcement.
Before I fully answer your question, I want to give you a little glimpse of me that might help explain my answer. At times, I’ve wanted to suppress some of the many issues my family has encountered. I’m not proud of the fact my parents have struggled with addiction (tobacco) or substance abuse (alcohol). I’m not proud that my grandfather committed suicide. I’m not proud that my aunt is on welfare. I’m not proud that I have cousins who have spent time in the county jail (aggravated battery) or the federal prison system (selling crack to an undercover DEA agent). I’m not proud of my cousin who is a gang member. I’m not proud of my uncle who shoots heroin. I’m not proud of the cousin who has tattoos across her face. I’m not proud of my cousin who fathered more than 12 kids with nine women. But, I am proud to say that I’ve learned from these situations. I’ve learned you can’t judge people on their appearance because the cousin with the tattoos on her face cares more for her family than anyone I know. I’ve learned that even though people make some tragic mistakes, there are still redeeming qualities in them. My cousin who spent time in the county jail has adopted two of her sister’s children to ease her sister’s financial burden. I’ve learned people deserve a second chance. I’ve learned everyone needs to be loved. I’ve learned everyone has a story. When I was younger, I used to shy away from my family history. But as I grew older, I learned to embrace my family’s history because it exposed me to situations that I might not have otherwise understood. Subsequently, I think it has made me a person who doesn’t readily judge others. I’ve been exposed to a lot and that has helped me relate to many of the problems I hear while I’m working the streets or working at BHS without judgement. Overall, I think I have a pretty good relationship with students and staff, although we can always work to improve our interpersonal relationships.
What are you most proud of in your life outside of your career?
Another good question and I promise not to be as long winded! After everything I previously mentioned, I take pride in working hard to keep relationships. I’m proud to have maintained friendships with the four people who stood up at my wedding 16 years ago. I’m proud to have multiple friendships enduring more than 30 years. I take pride in my word. I take pride in helping others. I take pride in working hard. However, I’m probably most proud of the family I brought into this world.
What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies and interests?
I really enjoy designing and building things around the house. I’m also proud of the craftsmanship of my remodeled master bathroom. It reminds me of going to a high-end day spa with a rock bottom shower and modern fixtures. I reconstructed the bathroom after tearing it down to the wooden studs and floor joists. Next summer, I hope to complete building a 20-foot x 40-foot shed in my backyard with an attached chicken coop, sliding barn doors, second-floor man space and possible pig run. (My wife isn’t quite on board with having pigs yet!) I also enjoy spending time with my wife and children, playing sports, attending plays/musicals, or just playing board games (specifically Jenga, Uno, Monopoly, and Risk). However, if I have free time to myself, I enjoy pencil drawing in my sketchbook. If I’m sitting on the couch at the end of the night, I enjoy watching documentaries, Netflix exclusives, MMA, football (Bears), hockey (Blackhawks), and rugby (Team USA or Team Ireland).
