When Colton Hunter exited the military and began working in the private sector, he never felt like he found his place. He missed structure, wearing a uniform and having a goal for good. That is what led Hunter to join the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and eventually landed him on the doorstep of Stockwell Place Elementary as School Resource Officer just over a year ago. It was then that Deputy Hunter found what he was looking for.
“I realized how much I enjoyed working with our youth as a wrestling coach,” Hunter explained. “So, I decided I could take that foundation and mix it with building kids up from a law enforcement perspective.”
It proved to be a perfect fit, not just for Deputy Hunter, but for the staff and students at Stockwell Place Elementary as well, so much so they pulled a fast one on their SRO by nominating him for Bossier Schools’ Gold Star employee award and turning the tables on him at fifth grade DARE graduation.
Kourtney Hughes praises his approachable nature, and Aden Williams calls him “a ray of sunshine at our school.” His interaction with students is what Kim Ray is most impressed by.
“He gets down in the floor with them, plays with them in PE, checks in on them if they are having a bad day, and encourages them all.” Ray added, “He makes a great Santa Claus, too!”
No doubt, Deputy Hunter goes the extra mile, and does not even mind being the target of school pranks, which is how the Stallions show love. Just ask Brittany Murray.
“He truly puts up with so much (sorry, not sorry, for all the pranks) and has a positive attitude about it, and is even pretty clever at pulling pranks himself!” Murray said.
“Despite his (sometimes questionable!) love for Alabama, he has earned the admiration of every student and staff member on campus,” Jaimee Mercer added. “His presence is more than just protective – it is uplifting. He has a gift for making students feel seen, valued, and encouraged. Teachers and staff equally appreciate his sense of humor and his willingness to ‘goof off’ right alongside them, creating a positive and welcoming environment for all.”
While the cheering squad for Team Hunter is huge, the one who sings his praises the most is head cheerleader Brooke Nolte, the principal at Stockwell Place.
“He is constantly checking doors to ensure they are secure, helping us prepare through safety drills, and thoughtfully considering ways to strengthen our safety protocols,” she said. “What makes Colton truly stand out is the way he builds meaningful relationships with our students. You will often find him sitting and talking with students in the hallways or cafeteria, or even climbing the rock wall in the gym right alongside them. His intentionality in connecting with students is inspiring.”
One example Nolte gave involved a first grader who was struggling with behavior.
“If the student completed his work and managed his outbursts, Colton would take him on a ‘bad guy’ hunt around campus – complete with flashlights and evidence bags. He even involved teachers by having them place ‘evidence’ for the student to discover. That child is now thriving.”
“I believe that if you can build positive relationships, you can build trust. Relationships matter in law enforcement,” Hunter reflected. “In an elementary setting, I want kids to remember their SRO who watched them grow. I want them to have the same desire to make a difference in people’s lives when they’re older. I feel that best happens when relationships are built and we invest in them.”
It is no wonder SRO Hunter has a legion of cheerleaders at Stockwell Place, and why he now sports two gold stars; one on his uniform from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and the other from Bossier Schools for going above and beyond the call of duty.
In an interview following the Gold Star announcement, we took a deeper dive and asked Deputy Hunter questions about his role as School Resource Officer. Here is what he had to say.
How long have you been in law enforcement and what was your motivation to
pursue this career?
Deputy Hunter: “I joined the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office 3 years ago. My motivation was the
structure I experienced in the military. Coming out, I never really felt like I had a place
working in the private sector. I missed wearing a uniform and having a goal for good. I
felt like my only goal was going to work to get paid. One day, I realized I was getting
older and the time to act was now or never. So, I told my awesome wife my idea. She
backed and supported me 100 percent, and the rest is history.”
What led you to become an SRO, and when did you start at Stockwell Place?
Deputy Hunter: “I realized how much I enjoyed working with our youth as a wrestling coach. So, I decided I could take that foundation and mix it with building kids up from a law
enforcement perspective. So, I became the SRO at Stockwell Place Elementary in
August of 2024.”
Several people who nominated you mentioned that you excel at building
relationships. Why is that important as an SRO and what does that look like at the
elementary level?
Deputy Hunter: “I believe that if you can build positive relationships, you can build trust.
Relationships matter in law enforcement. Whether it’s talking someone off a ledge or
gathering information. In an elementary setting, I want kids to remember their SRO who
watched them grow. I want them to have the same desire to make a difference in people’s lives when they’re older. I feel that best happens when relationships are built
and we invest in them.”
Being an SRO versus on patrol is probably a night and day comparison. What
are some of the craziest, most fun or surprising things you’ve done in your role
as SRO?
Deputy Hunter: “Yes. It’s definitely a drastic change. But the most fun I’ve had as an SRO is seeing my kids when I’m out of uniform and in public. My favorite time has been when they
have come trick-or-treating at my house. Any time I see students outside of the school
setting is just flat-out fun because I get to see them with their families and make those
connections. Plus, SPE is full of surprises. No one ever knows if their workspace has
been rolled or redecorated, whether they’ll get hit in the face with a pie while opening
the refrigerator, or wild goose chases. Pranks are a part of the culture at SPE, so we’re
constantly laughing, but it’s all in good fun.”
Why is being an SRO rewarding?
Deputy Hunter: “As a child, I never saw law enforcement as role models. When we saw the cops, we got nervous for absolutely no reason. They were just doing their jobs. I imagined their
personalities as hard and overall negative. As I matured, I recognized that idea as an
unreasonable bias and an overall flaw. As an SRO, I get to let these kids see me. They
understand the authority side, but I want to break down those same barriers of
understanding that I had as a kid. In this position, there’s nothing cooler than getting
little fist bumps from kindergartners or sitting with our special needs students in the
classrooms or in the cafeteria. Those are the times that make a person realize why they
do what they do.”
Here’s the fun part. Share a little personal lagniappe about yourself. What are
your hobbies? What is something surprising people might not know about you?
Anything on your bucket list that you have crossed off?
Deputy Hunter: “One of my favorite hobbies is cooking, whether it’s creating something that I’ve never made before or my classic recipes. My wife and kids share their honest opinions with me, so I save and scrap some recipes. After my wife or I have had a long day, nothing is better than the two of us just cutting up and laughing in the kitchen together. As far as a bucket list goes, I pretty much hit stuff as they come to me. I think that’s why I live so full.”
Here’s your chance to add anything I am not asking, people you want to thank,
etc. The floor is yours!
Deputy Hunter: “I have SO many people to thank! Principal Brooke Nolte, all of the faculty and staff at SPE, my leadership at the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, and all the families of SPE.
These are the people who allow me the honor of spending time with their students,
making this the best job ever. Also, I want to thank Bossier Parish Schools and Bossier
Federal Credit Union for facilitating this honor. I’m amazed at the depths to which
everyone went to keep this a surprise and a secret. You are all incredible. Most
importantly, my wife Candy is my biggest support. She stood beside me during the
entire process of the massive career change several years ago. She always
encouraged me to be the best I could be. It’s been an adjustment for her, also. It’s not
easy being married to law enforcement. But she’s an awesome example of greatness.”
Editor’s note: Know someone who works for Bossier Schools that is deserving of recognition for going above and beyond? Nominate them for the Gold Star award, proudly sponsored for the 13th year by Bossier Federal Credit Union. Visit https://bit.ly/GoldStarForm to tell what sets them apart and be watching for our next Gold Star surprise.