By Jennifer Webb
It was almost time. Keith Ferren put his hand in the aquarium and took out his snake, Maximus, that everyone calls “Max” for short.
The snake seemed to know he was about to be on duty and curled happily around Keith’s hand. Officer Ferren stepped outside the door to his office into the empty hallway.
*BEEEEEEEEP* An annoyingly loud bell sounded, doors opened, and kids flooded into the halls. The volume level instantly went up as their conversations filled the air.
“Hey Max!” one kid stopped to talk for a minute and run his hand over the snake’s smooth scales, smiling up at Officer Ferren. Max performed his duties admirably - breaking the ice, serving as a conversation piece, and helping spark interactions with the kids.
Since Keith got Max as a baby in 2021, when he was serving as the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Southwest Middle School, the snake became very familiar with being handled.
Cpl. Keith Ferren chatted easily with the kids, encouraging them, asking how their day was going, joking around, and generally letting them know he cared. The kids didn’t know he had been newly promoted to Corporal; they were just happy that he had “moved up” with them to their new school. The kids were the best thing about serving as an SRO. He was committed to doing his best to keep them safe, and hopefully, being a positive influence in their lives.
“Serving as an SRO is fulfilling in a different way than most positions. I get to interact with students and get a lot of feedback instantly. One of the greatest things is when I see a student five years later and they still know the secret handshake or phrase I said often. It’s a reminder that they were listening, even if I didn’t know it at the time.”
- Cpl. Keith Ferren, School Resource Officer, Ahlf Junior High School
In a few short minutes, the crowd around him and Max dispersed. The kids were back in their classrooms before the bell rang again.
Officer Ferren went back inside his office and put Max away, thinking to himself. It was funny that at one point he said he never wanted an SRO position and now he was devoted to it.
He started off with the Searcy Police Department as auxiliary and was hired to a full-time position in May 2015. He was able to put his skills to use that he had learned in the service with the 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard/US Air Force as Security Forces “military police” in England, Iraq, Korea, and Spain.
He worked as a patrolman with the Searcy Police Department for four years before getting the opportunity to serve as SRO with Searcy Schools.
“I’ll give it two years,” he said to himself in 2019. That would give his daughter, Ally, time to graduate from high school. Now, five years later, he says that the decision to serve as SRO is one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
His primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the kids. Each day, he walks over five and a half miles, directing traffic in the mornings and afternoons, and checking all the doors to make sure everyone in the building belongs there. As a matter of procedure, all visitors must stop by the office to get a name badge.
In case of emergencies or crisis—whether they make the news or are personal—he is there to provide a safe space for the kids. Additionally, he serves as a D.A.R.E. instructor, teaching Drug Abuse Recognition Education. This program focuses on healthy decision-making and encourages students to live safe and healthy lives. He loves visiting classrooms and interacting with the kids.
Cpl. Ferren is on duty during school hours and attends as many games and tournaments as possible. This not only supports the kids and makes them feel safe but also allows him to meet and interact with parents and the community. As an endurance sport athlete, he understands the dedication and practice time that student-athletes commit to.
During the summer, he spends his time training or working on patrol at the police department. One of his favorite roles there is on the Crisis Negotiation Team. To be able to resolve a conflict without force by using communication and listening skills is a satisfying challenge that easily applies to his role as SRO.
In his personal life, Keith’s an accomplished runner and cyclist. He has completed bike tours up to 100 miles and multiple 50k runs, marathons, half marathons, 10ks, and 5ks. His ultimate goal is an ambitious 100k run.
He also loves coming home to his beautiful wife, Mary. For the past 25 years, she’s been his safe space. They love going camping and just spending time together.
“As stressful as this job is, I would describe our marriage as ‘Peace’.”
- Cpl. Keith Ferren, School Resource Officer, Ahlf Junior High School
Their children, Ally and Jacob, continue to be a big part of their lives. Ally is now in her senior year of college pursuing an agriculture degree, and Jacob and his wife, Rachel, both work at Children’s Hospital.
Cpl. Ferren is proud to be a part of the SRO team serving Searcy Schools. For him, there is no better position than right in the middle of the most satisfying job he’s ever worked.
Read the full issue below.
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