January 9 was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
It provided an opportune time to recognize one of West Columbia's best.
Saluda River Academy for the Arts School Resource Officer India Taylor was selected as the West Columbia Police Department's Officer-of-the-Year in December.
Jim LeBlanc is the principal at Saluda River Academy for the Arts. He said the school depends on Taylor.
“She goes above and beyond the call of duty. She gets here early every day and is an integral part of our team.”
LeBlanc said Taylor helps with emergency drills and training in the event of an intruder on school grounds. She also leads the Bobcat Boys and Girls to teach good character traits. Taylor instructs the SRAA Flag Team, too.
We love having her here,” said LeBlanc. “She is a part of the Saluda River family.”
Taylor, a Master Patrol Officer, loves the school, too.
“Becoming a school resource officer is the best thing to happen to me,” said Taylor. She said her time with the students is refreshing and it revitalized her career.
“It’s something new every day,” Taylor said.
She said as an officer on the street she would work a case, file a report and move on. But now she is a part of the children’s lives each day. She gets to know something about their backgrounds.
“We’re able to build relationships when the students are at an impressionable age,” said Taylor. She said she is greeted with hugs and fist bumps. And that is very rewarding for her.