STHS Resource Officer Andy Eissinger talks drugs, social media and theft

South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Andy Eissinger is enjoying his new job as the Resource Officer at South Tahoe High, having moved into the position when Aaron Crawford retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year.

Eissinger said the first five months on the job have gone well and have been a nice break from being on patrol for the City the last eight years. He spends all eight hours of the day on the campus, interacting with students and dealing with issues that come up on a daily basis.

When asked what his biggest surprise has been at STHS since he started, Eissinger answered "Proposition 47."

Prop. 47 was approved by the California voters in November of 2014, reducing the penalties on many drug possession charges that used to be felonies.

"I now don't have a lot of authority," said Eissinger where drugs are concerning. If a student brought drugs on campus prior to the passing of Prop 47 they would be arrested and sent to Juvenile Hall. Now, the school can handle the situation with suspension and a drug intervention program, but the police cannot take care of it legally.

Eissinger said he spends about 80 percent of his day dealing with social media threats and drama displayed on Instagram and Facebook. Where physical fights among students used to prevail, they now happen on smart phones. He said that if he could tell parents one thing, it'd be to keep a close eye on their student's social media accounts.

"The kids' cell phones should be totally open to parents where they can keep an eye on texts and activity on the social media sites," he said. "Pay attention to who their friends are and what they are saying."

The social media issue is the biggest change from when Eissinger held the position at the school in 2011 when Crawford was out on leave.

Another issue he's had to deal with at STHS is theft, something he has seen more and more of. In the last week alone there have been nine stolen school netbooks. He's also seen a lot of cell phone thefts, and even shoes being stolen. A popular shoe to steal are Under Armour sandals.

Even with the theft, drugs and social media issues, Eissinger says he only sees about one percent of the student body. He said he is enjoying the interaction with faculty, students and parents, something he was never able to do as a patrol officer.

In the past, Crawford's patrol car was always parked in front of the school. Eissinger keeps his next to the office so he can get into it quicker when responding to a call, which is does from time to time. Being a motorcycle rider, he may be seen on the bike during warmer months.

If any parents would like to talk to him about their kids or situations, or need advice, he welcomes phone calls. He can be reached at 530-541-4111 ext. 1986. He can help parents understand drug symptoms and paraphernalia.

He is a big San Francisco Giants and Fort-Niner fan. The graduate of Lake Tahoe Community College and Western Nevada College also enjoys the outdoors during his free time, from skiing to mountain biking and camping. He is also dad to a twelve-year-old son.