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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Meet WMU’s School Resource Officer, Scott Roen
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
His title is Chief/SRO (Winfield Police Chief/School Resource Officer to WMU), and Scott Roen fulfills both services and more. After visiting with Officer Roen, it is apparent that he is deeply invested in both services.
When asked why he chose law enforcement as a career, he answered, “I felt called to serve and wanted to make a difference in whatever community I felt God wanted me in, and it so happened to be here in Winfield.”
Officer Roen has held many jobs, from working in a bacon factory while in high school and college, to drilling water wells out of college. He has worked as a package handler and delivery driver for FedEx, as well as working as a semi truck driver for Ruan Transport, where he was responsible for loading and unloading his own tanker trailer with sulfuric acid and delivering it.
Before accepting his job in Winfield, Officer Roen was an elementary teacher at Mt. Pleasant Christian School.
“I was a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher and also the PE teacher,” he said.
Law enforcement is a new role for Officer Roen. Winfield is his first experience in law enforcement.
“I was hired in August 2024 and have worked here since then,” he said.
When visiting with Officer Roen, his knowledge, commitment, and demeanor regarding his career are those of someone with much more experience.
When asked what his job entails, he replied, “Providing protection to the community of Winfield, whether it be making traffic stops for speeding, looking for drivers running stop signs, checking for proper registration and insurance, etc. We are also called to answer to disturbances on the street or homes. Doing welfare checks, enforcing city ordinances, and driving around looking for things that look out of place or don’t belong and addressing them.”
Loose dogs and stray cats, their capture and return to their owners, if they have one, are also things the officers deal with.
“I try to provide resources to individuals and families to help them with what they’re dealing with," he said, adding, “There are more issues that we deal with, this is just a sneak peek.”
Regarding domestic disturbances, Officer Roen said he tries to mediate the situation and make sure both sides have an opportunity to share their sides to the story.
“We often see people having a bad day, and in some cases having their worst day, so I try to help them through what they’re going through. Obviously there are times when a law is broken and an arrest is necessary, but even then I try to talk to the subjects any way I can.”
When asked if he ever felt he was in danger he replied, “In this career you always must be on guard and ready for anything because you never know, but I don’t remember ever feeling like I was in any real danger. I’m also not naïve to think it will never happen, either. Going into a call with a healthy fear helps keep you alert and ready if something dangerous does occur.”
It's obvious that he enjoys his job as WMU’s resource officer, too.
“I get to meet students in their environment, and strive to be a positive influence in their lives.”
As the school’s SRO, he enjoys interacting with the students and sometimes will join a PE class or a game they are playing at recess.
“I love kids and enjoy playing around with them, whether it’s on the basketball court or the playground.”
These are ways to help him build relationships with elementary and secondary students. He strives to make them aware of local and state laws when situations pop up that he can use as a learning experience. Sometimes he is asked to talk with students about their behavior in the classroom, other times it involves sitting in on meetings with parents. He also visits with students who have been sent to the school office.
“It gives me a chance to discuss what the law says about their actions, or what those actions could lead to further down the road.”
He also said it gives him an opportunity to share with students how their choices not only affect themselves, but others as well. Officer Roen said one of the most rewarding parts of his job is the opportunity to talk with students and try to help them through what they are dealing with, whether at school or at home.
“Having the students trust me enough to tell me some personal information is a huge deal and I don’t take it lightly.” he said. “I also get the opportunity to help produce pre-prom events that help students be more conscious of their behaviors and decision making, especially during that weekend.”
He says he focuses on sharing with students how making smart choices is critical when it comes to drinking, drugs and distracted driving.
“I try to share stories and give examples of how distracted driving, or driving while impaired, can impact not only themselves, but also the people they love and others.”
Another activity he had the opportunity to start this year was a Shop with a Cop event for 16 students from WMU on Dec. 23.
“To see the smiles on their faces was priceless, the non-stop hugs from some of them were amazing and rewarding. I felt bad not being able to have every kid that applied out there with us, but it just wasn’t feasible this year. Our plan is to make this an annual event and even try to hold a Shop with a Cop Back to School event this year.”
Other officers that helped with Shop with a Cop were: Officer Norcross, Officer Bergthold, and Officer Ford.
“I could not have held this event without our part-time officers and their willingness to get involved, and it was great to see the students interact with them as well,“ said Officer Roen.
Officer Roen also shared some humorous moments he encountered as SRO.
“Every day something humorous happens, I’m sure. I do like to goof off with students. From dancing with the dance team last year (I’m sure it was super humorous for anyone watching it!), to doing silly little pranks on kids at school and sometimes away from school. I do remember getting TP’d and having a pitcher of water waiting by the door and bolting out after the students who were doing it and soaking a certain student! That was fun!” said Officer Roen. “In my first year as SRO I was asked to wear a Santa costume for the day, and that was eventful for sure!”
Officer Roen says he gets involved anytime he can when there are activities.
“Mr. Stevens (a teacher at the school) and I were able to enter the school’s pickleball tourney that our PE teachers (Drey and Iverson) have made an annual event. It’s fun to play against high school students because it keeps us old guys young!”
Officer Roen was born in Beloit, Wisconsin and lived in Dixon, Illinois, and several towns in Iowa, before moving to Winfield from Bonaparte. When asked why Winfield, he said “I moved to Winfield in March of 2025 after accepting my job here. It was not mandated that I live in town, but I knew if I got the position that I would want to live in the community in which I felt called to serve.”
He is the son of Jean Cox, Dad: Rusty Cox and Bio dad: Bruce Roen. He has one brother and two sisters. He is a graduate of Dixon (IL) High School and attended Mankato State University (now University of Minnesota at Mankato); Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon: and Aurora University in Aurora, IL where he received his degree in Elementary Education.
It was at a coed softball game where he met his wife Laura (Syfert) Roen. They were on the same team, and he was subbing for the shortstop. His future wife was playing second base. They were married in Dixon, IL and will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary in July.
They are the parents of son Bailey (21), and daughters Kylee (19), Scotlyn (16) and Josslyn (16). Their family also includes three furry family members, Luna, Nala, and Oreo.
Officer Roen's wife, Laura, was originally from Salem, IA. She works at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher. Officer Roen likes our small town for the sense of belonging and connectivity that can bring purpose into one’s life.
He added, “It can produce a simpler way of living, from minimal traffic to less entertainment distractions. The cost of living can be a huge benefit as well.”
“I don’t really view a small town as having any cons, but it does have a feel of everyone ‘knows’ everyone, and word can travel fast even if it’s not meant to (such as rumors)”, explains Officer Roen. He also added, “In a small town there are less career opportunities and you have to travel further to shop for groceries and other items, although online shopping makes it easier.”
When asked if he had traveled much, his first reply was “Not really,”, but after listing all the places he has visited in his past he said, “After listing those I guess I have traveled a little bit.”
His travels included Florida and Arizona (for college baseball), and for competitive slow pitch softball, he traveled to many states for State and National Tournaments, including Las Vegas, Nevada and Disney Land, fishing trips to Canada, a trip to Hawaii with family friends, and a cruise for their honeymoon which went through the Cayman Islands!
When he is not working, Officer Roen said he tries to attend church on Sundays, “because I feel that is important.” He enjoys lifting weights and staying in shape by playing basketball, or other sports/activities/running, but said “ok no one really enjoys running! Lol.”
“Our Aussie, Luna demands that I play frisbee or ball with her on a daily basis, so that is another activity I enjoy (probably not as much as her though!)”
Other activities he enjoys include hunting, fishing, and any sport that involves a ball. ”I like going on walks with my wife and our dogs, and really, any time I get to spend with my wife without kids is a cherished time! I’m sure all you parents can relate. LOL… I also enjoy watching sporting events at WMU.”
Does he have a pet peeve? “Not really, but I don’t like when someone tells me they will do something or be somewhere at a certain time and not call, or text, to say they can’t make it! I think all of us parents have several pet peeves with our kids at home, but I will refrain from throwing them under the bus! (This time lol)”
His advice to today’s youth: “Be authentic and don’t try to be someone you are not. God created you unique and different for a purpose. Chase after what you're passionate about. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If God gives you the ability to dream it, He will give you the ability to pursue it. God gives you two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak. Treat every loss as a lesson and every setback as an opportunity to learn, grow, and a chance to come back stronger. Don’t let your failures define who you are. God says you are beautifully and wonderfully made. You were created on purpose and for a purpose. Surround yourself with people who love you enough to stand by you when things are hard but also love you enough to tell you when you’re going down a path that is unhealthy.”
“I believe entering law enforcement is a calling and not just a job,” when Officer Roen was asked what advice he would give to someone wanting to enter law enforcement. “If you just want a job you might want to look at something else.”
He listed these qualities that make a good officer: wanting to make a difference in people’s lives in a positive way, wanting to help communities feel safe and protected, willing to act quickly to protect others from danger, and if you want to see actions taken to enforce the laws we have, then getting into law enforcement would be a good choice.
He also advises candidates to get into good physical shape before putting in an application anywhere.
“There will be physical testing that will challenge you if you are not ready for it, plus being physically active is great for your overall health and will allow you to run people down if the job calls for it,” he said.
“Getting to know people where they are at and having the opportunity to help them through what they are dealing with is one of the rewards of my career, as well as working with kids at the school,” Officer Roen said when asked what he found most rewarding in his career.
If he had the power to change anything, the world would be full of love instead of a divide between love and hate. Officer Roen also stated he wishes that society in general could look past the color of one’s skin, or life choices, and treat all people with love, dignity, and respect, the way God designed it.
