Former Bristol County Sheriff’s Office manager to use experience to help keep students safe in Fall River Diocese

FALL RIVER, MA – After an extensive search process and with the current environment and challenges facing schools across the country, the Diocese of Fall River and Catholic Schools Office have announced that Christine Leeman has been appointed to the newly created position of School Resource Officer. Leeman will oversee the safety and security of all 19 Catholic schools in the Diocese. A key focus of this new role is to work closely with school leaders and other personnel to provide for a safe school environment. In addition, she will serve as a liaison between police departments and the Catholic schools.

According to the Diocese, previously, as the Manager of Public Safety Education for the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, Christine Leeman was responsible for outreach to all schools in Bristol County, including public, Catholic, private, and charter schools, educating students and faculty on topics such as bullying, harassment, situational awareness, and the dangers of social media. Within one year of launching this program, Leeman presented the above topics to well over 1500 students, faculty and parents. Christine’s contact with the community was not only with students but included the elderly of Bristol County as well, as she participated in social events offered by the department and provided education on scam awareness.

Superintendent Daniel S. Roy indicates, “Christine Leeman comes to the Diocese at a time of national concern with school safety. Her dedication to the safety of the community is evident through her direct connection between the local schools and law enforcement, including the launch of a successful bullying program for both students and families. The Diocese of Fall River is blessed to have a professional of her caliber fostering a safe and healthy environment for our schools.”

“With my experience at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to the training I’ve received as a Deputy Sheriff since 2016, I am well versed in de-escalation, crisis intervention, school safety, and the best practices in solving matters with confidentiality and compassion,” says Christine Leeman. “I also relate well with students and families to promote morals and values in a Catholic educational environment. This new role is perfectly aligned with my passion for student health and wellness in addition to my belief that students need to be well rounded spiritually and academically.”

Leeman is married to her husband of three years, and they are the proud parents of a one-year old daughter. The Leeman family are members of St. Joseph’s of Fairhaven Parish.