Crime Stoppers Honors Outstanding District Officer

On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, School Police Officer Carla Kuamoo was honored at the “Enough is Enough” Crime Stoppers luncheon held at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley. Carla who is respectfully referred to as “Officer K.” by the students at Monroe Clark Middle School has been a police officer for seven years. This past year, Carla has received nearly 50 Crime Stoppers tips from Monroe Clark students.

Monroe Clark has nearly 1,300 students and is considered to be among the most active schools in San Diego. Before Officer Kuamoo was assigned to the school, the campus had been without a full-time police officer for two years. As a result, several students had developed a genuine distrust of police and several of them had been recruited into gangs.

Initially, students were afraid to speak to Officer Kuamoo about crime for fear of retaliation. She knew if she was going to make a positive impact on campus, she would need to gain their trust. She did this by using the Campus Crime Stoppers Program. She conducted classroom presentations and encouraged students to report crime using Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line. Within months, she had received more tips than she could have imagined. These tips have led to numerous felony and misdemeanor arrests of gang members for weapons, fighting and drug possession on campus. By their participation, the students of Monroe Clark have shown their desire to have a safer school without gangs.

Officer Carla Kuamoo was honored for her tenacity and dedication to her students and the Campus Crime Stoppers Program. Her leadership has made a difference on campus and in the community of City Heights.