North Royalton Police Office Jon Karl will be retiring later next month. Karl has served in law enforcement for almost 40 years and has been the School Resource Officer for the North Royalton School District since 1988. Officer Alexandra (Lexie) Bell will be taking Karl’s place in that position.
School Resource Officers are police officers who work in the district, along with school administrators, faculty and security staff members in an effort to ensure that schools are safe places for students. In Karl’s case, he has been involved from pre-school through Grade 12, from the conducting of Safety Town, to teaching students about the dangers of drugs and the importance of safety with firearms.
Karl follows in his Father’s footsteps as a Police Officer. After attending Cuyahoga Community College and receiving a degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. He started with the North Royalton Police Department in 1988, working on the SWAT team and in undercover narcotics. Before starting his position of School Resource Officer, Karl served for a year in Kosovo as a United Nations Peacekeeper. Karl began serving as a School Resource Officer in 2003.
“I don’t think Jon Karl knew what he was getting into when he volunteered for the new position of School Resource Officer,” said North Royalton Police Chief Keith Tarase. “Jon accepted the new assignment and ran with it, going above and beyond what was expected of the position. Officer Karl has become one of the best School Resource Officers out there. His knowledge and dedication are almost impossible to replace!”
Bell came to the North Royalton Police Department in January 2019, from the Cleveland Police Department. She served in the Marine Corp and has both a Bachelor and Master Degree in Criminal Justice. On Bell’s new appointment, Tarase noted that, “Lexie Bell has the unenviable task of taking over for Officer Karl. She has handled herself extremely well in her short time with the North Royalton Police Department. She has been approaching the new position with energy and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to great things from her.”
“I cannot begin to thank Officer Karl for all he has done for our students, staff and community,” said North Royalton School Superintendent Greg Gurka. “He has gone above and beyond the call of duty and we are a better district because of him. I know that Officer Bell will take the reins and make this position her own and provide the same great guidance and assistance we have come to expect.”
When asked what the most difficult part of his job, Karl stated that “probably parents not recognizing when their children are in crisis or behavior changes for what they might be. . . it’s a small percentage, but in helping facilitate a change in behavior – it’s a tough, tough thing.” The best part, he noted is “seeing people that, at some point, have been to school, had a crisis or horrible situation and seeing them after they have been out of school for a while and are doing well and have turned things around. The simplest way of saying that is seeing them reach the potential you always knew they had.”
When Karl was asked what he would like parents to understand about their students, he responded, “I would like parents to understand that it’s important to understand to set clear boundaries and expectations, understanding that the function of growing up is pushing boundaries. The message of parenting has to be consistent.. . .This isn’t an accusation, it’s just that kids need stability and consistent messaging.”
When asked about retirement plans, Karl plans to head to a beach in Mexico for some long-awaited R & R.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer