Ask anyone at Salem Community High School about Craig Vieira, and they probably won’t describe him as just a police officer. They’ll talk about the fist bumps in the hallway, the conversations that last long after graduation, and the way he makes every student feel seen, heard, and valued.

Sure, he wears a badge. But at SCHS, Craig Vieira is much more than law enforcement—he’s a mentor, a counselor, and a believer in second chances.

Before becoming Salem Community High School’s School Resource Officer (SRO), Craig Vieira spent years in law enforcement. First, he was a canine handler with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, then he transitioned to the Salem Police Department—not because he wanted to leave the streets, but because he saw an opportunity to make an impact before problems ever started.

"I knew the city was looking for SROs, and I thought—why not me?" Craig says. "I’d always had a connection with young people through my church and other work. I just knew I could make a difference here."

That was six years ago, and in that time, he has built something invaluable: trust.

Some people assume school resource officers are just security guards—that they’re there to keep order and patrol the hallways. Craig is quick to shut that misconception down.

"If you're doing this job right, the law enforcement side is actually the smallest part of what you do," he explains.

SROs operate under the National Association of School Resource Officers’ (NASRO) Triad Model, meaning they serve as:
• A Law Enforcement Officer – Ensuring safety, crime prevention, and emergency preparedness.
• A Mentor & Counselor – Supporting students through challenges and guiding them toward better choices.
• An Educator – Teaching legal literacy and helping students understand how the law impacts their daily lives.

Craig’s favorite part? The education piece.

"I kind of wish I’d been a teacher," he admits. "I love getting in the classroom, talking to kids about real-world legal issues. They all think they know everything—until we start busting myths about what’s true and what’s just TikTok nonsense."

For Craig, relationships are everything. He doesn’t just talk to students—he listens. He knows their names, remembers their stories, and shows up at their games, performances, and graduations.

"Some of my best relationships have actually come from kids I had to deal with in a law enforcement capacity," he says. "Kids who got in trouble but came to me later, wanting advice, wanting to change. That means the world to me."

He’s watched students turn their lives around, go into law enforcement, and even join the Salem Police Department and surrounding agencies.

"I see former students working all over town, and I remember what they were like at 16," he says. "To see them now, thriving—it’s the best part of my job."

Craig knows that not every student at Salem Community High School comes in trusting the police. Some have grown up seeing negative interactions between law enforcement and their families. Others have only heard one side of the story.

"I tell them all the time—people don’t call the police for good things. They call us when something is going wrong," Craig explains. "But that doesn’t mean we’re the bad guys. We’re human, too."

By simply being present, being honest, and being real, he’s changed the way hundreds of students see law enforcement. His approach is simple: be the person they can turn to, not just the person they fear.

"I don’t sugarcoat things. I don’t lie. If they ask me something, I tell them the truth—even when it’s hard. And they respect that."

All In—Because That’s the Only Way He Knows How to Be

Craig doesn’t just work at Salem Community High School. He lives and breathes it. He’s a 1992 SCHS graduate, his family is deeply rooted in education, and he considers every student in this building his responsibility.

"If I was going to do this job, I was going to be all in," he says. "I go to the games, the events—not because I have to, but because I want to. These kids deserve to see that I support them beyond just my job."

And he does it without expecting anything in return.

With four years left until retirement, Craig isn’t slowing down. He knows these years will fly by, but he also knows his impact won’t end when he turns in his badge.

"These relationships continue long after these kids graduate," he says. "I run into them years later, and they still stop and talk to me. That’s when you know you’ve done something right."

At Salem Community High School, Craig Vieira isn’t just keeping the school safe. He’s making sure every student knows they matter.