In our society, the public often focuses on being great all the time. Many people feel they must be the best at everything to feel that they have succeeded. The pressure of this feeling can grow over time, leading to challenges in everyday life.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Eric Perkins has dealt with chaotic and troubling moments that people outside of law enforcement may never have to endure. He feels that life is not always about having to succeed at everything. For him, in his most stressful moments in life, he cannot make mistakes (for the sake of others), but in training, that is where he believes it is important to do so.
Contrary to the idea of perfection, Perkins believes that developing tools and skills are the most valuable things a person can do. For high schoolers, training may look different from what Perkins does. Regardless of differences in training between Perkins and high schoolers, both can result in failure.
Perkins does not see this as a negative thing though; he views it as a positive.
“Every day, you should be failing at something, because one, it shows you that you’re pushing yourself further, and two, you’re identifying your limits, because you don’t know how far you’ve gone until you’ve gone too far,” Perkins said. “Don’t be afraid to fail in pursuit of your goals.”
Recognizing one’s strengths and weaknesses is a gift because it allows a person to truly understand themselves. Perkins feels that pushing yourself until failure helps to uphold standards so that someone does not go too far in the wrong direction.
Perkins comes from a place of good intention, especially when put in tough situations. He puts effort and care into his job every day at work, no matter what circumstances he may face in his personal life.
Eric and his wife, Jodi Perkins, went to high school together at St. Edward High School in Elgin. She says that when he looks back on that time, he really loved it. As important as his job is, he wants kids to enjoy high school.
“[Eric] wants the kids at Kaneland to have a good experience too,” Jodi said. “He knows school can be stressful but can also be a lot of fun. He brings the seriousness of his job with him but can be approachable and honest with the kids.”
As an SRO, Perkins knows the pressure and standards that need to be met in order to keep the safety of students as the priority. With this delegation of responsibility, he makes it his number one goal to protect all students at Kaneland High School.
“That’s the primary job is the protection of the students,” Perkins said. “Students are more valuable than money. They’re more valuable than gold.”
To him, kids are the greatest commodity people have. He never forgets the purpose of his job and makes it a priority to always be prepared for the worst.
Dean of Students Steven Lucas works closely with Perkins each day. He agrees with Perkins about the importance of safety in schools and notes that Perkins is always ready for whatever situation may come his way.
“We’re 100% in school safety,” Lucas said. “He’s constantly training. Even with 30 or 40 years in law enforcement, I feel he is always continuing to learn the latest and greatest.”
Perkins may not be seen all the time during the school day, but he has become an important factor in how Kaneland High School operates today. With the growing awareness of safety needed in schools, Perkins knows how important his job of protecting students is.
“I’ve already come to terms with the fact that I have no problem sacrificing my life for any of the students here in the school,” Perkins said. “That is the priority and if that means I have to jump in front of something to save you or another student, I’m ready to do that.”
Eric Perkins has shown dedication throughout his career in law enforcement. Along with being a deputy, he is also a part of SWAT Team Sniper. SWAT teams are highly trained law enforcement units that handle dangerous situations such as hostage rescues, barricaded suspects and active shooters. They use specialized tactics, equipment and weapons that often include specific roles like snipers.
With this responsibility, he is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Jodi Perkins mentions how there have been big holidays that Eric has had to miss, and because of that, it has affected his life and his family.
“Bad people do not stop being bad on holidays or other special days,” Jodi Perkins said. “He has missed countless events and holidays. The calls he has been on throughout his 30+ year career have had a profound effect on his life.”
Currently, members of law enforcement have perceptions from the public that are influenced by the culture that surrounds them.
Many people presume that law enforcement is an environment of cynicism, full of distrustful behavior and critical actions. But what is often forgotten is that people in law enforcement see the worst moments of someone’s life, and in those moments they are expected to make the best choices for the best outcome.
“I have to be right every single time,” Perkins said. “I have to be right every single time, and it can weigh on you mentally and physically.”
Caught in the harsh realities of life, law enforcement workers can get stuck in those moments and be mentally trapped in negative thoughts about situations they have been in. With having the pressure of being correct in every moment, feelings can set in that are not always positive
“On the street, you get very cynical, and you only see a sliver of reality,” Perkins said. “A cop’s world is inside this sliver of reality, and it’s that sliver of reality that affects you and your mind.”
The media plays into these realities as well. Perkins perceives that when someone gets control of the narrative, they can manipulate the message, publish anything others want to see and influence people to believe it.
“Today in the media, they only push a certain narrative, and if they push that narrative long enough, people are gonna believe it,” Perkins said. “It’s those types of narratives that put law enforcement in a bad light.”
With potential false narratives through the media, it can influence many aspects of life. Perkins thinks the media should display the truth.
“The media has just as much of a responsibility to provide the truth in the correct context as I do,” Perkins said. “I took an oath of office. I don’t see any reporters taking oaths of offices, and that’s pretty sad.”
Perkins believes that perception is reality. If emotions are let go, a person’s perception of someone can diminish.
Jodi Perkins has witnessed her husband endure some of the toughest challenges a person can face. From hostage rescues to fatal car accidents, all cases bring emotion for people in law enforcement and for their families as well.
“Police officers are human, and humans are not equipped to deal with daily trauma, and sometimes it is hard for both of us to cope,” Jodi said.
Trauma doesn’t only affect the individual; it can also take a toll on family members, both emotionally and physically.
Mental health is a topic that is frequently overlooked in law enforcement. With any officer having to always be right, it can weigh on them both mentally and physically. For Perkins, he always tells other co-workers to talk to somebody or things will build up.
“We see a lot of chaos and negativity that humans go through, and it can wear on you after a while, especially if you think that you don’t need to talk to somebody,” Perkins said.
Law enforcement is often overlooked for how many factors they have to juggle in order to perform their job to the best of their ability. This pressure results in different difficulties in life that officers are expected to resolve.
Through everything Perkins sees daily, he wants to make sure that he leaves this world with a positive legacy.
“When I leave the room, and when I’m gone from this Earth, I want people to look back and say, ‘He was a good guy doing the right thing at the right time,’” Perkins said.
Eric Perkins continuously puts his life on the line for others. Whether it is his family or a student at Kaneland High School, he is always there as a protection for safety but also a support system.
A phrase that has stuck with him is “know what you can do when you can do it, and be prepared to do it immediately.”
Making the right decisions in the most difficult situations for the benefit of others reflects his dependable, respectful and courageous character.
