Guardians on patrol in Manatee County

Dressed in grey polo t-shirts and sidearms, 20 members of the School District of Manatee County's Guardian Program began serving district elementary schools Aug. 20.

The first group of school security guards graduated Aug. 16 in a special ceremony at the district's administrative offices. They had been trained by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Acting Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said the guardians will provide a safe academic environment for the students.

Here is a look at four of the new guardians who will be protecting the area's children.

William Radle

Assigned school: Braden River Elementary

Experience: Radle spent 23 years as a captain with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He also worked as a U.S. Air Force Security Policeman for four years.

Why he applied: “I think it’s my calling to want to do this kind of work. It’s not for everybody and we all have 20 to 30 years of experience in law enforcement of some kind.”

What he expects: “Our training is above and beyond what anyone would expect. There’s not much difference in the way a Student Resource Officer would act and the way a Guardian would act in a school because the training is so similar.”

Thomas Cesser

Assigned school: Palma Sola Elementary until the new round of Guardians graduate on Sept. 17. Cesser is one of the lead Guardians. 

Experience: Cesser is a former Pennsylvania State Trooper who retired after 24 years.

Why he applied: “Given my past experience, I felt like I was ready to act. You need people trusted and tested to perform in these positions. Our biggest priority is ensuring parents and students that they will be safe.” 

What he expects: Cesser said that he applied knowing what kind of pressure it would put on him. “There’s a pressure, but I chose this,” Cesser said. “People I supervise are counting on me and the people I’m protecting count on me. Everyone who graduated has a 100% dedication to this program."

Jason Liles

Assigned school: Tara Elementary

Experience: Liles had a 17-year career in the New York Police Department, retiring in 2014. He moved his family to Manatee County, where he was a school bus driver until the Guardian Program opened.

Why he applied: “When the position became available, I thought it was important that I apply. The skills that I’ve acquired over my career could be really useful.”

What he expects: “My kids Samantha (11th grade) and Jason (10th grade) are Lakewood Ranch High School students, and my other daughter Madison (eighth grade) is a Carlos E. Haile Middle School student. The most important thing that I want people to know is that they have to give the program time to work itself out. In our graduating class, I know I’m not the only one with kids, but I feel good knowing that every single one of these Guardians would do what's needed to be done.”

Robert Rittenhouse

School: Myakka Elementary School

Experience: Retired after 20 years as a Sheriff's Office sergeant in Middlesex, New Jersey.

Why he applied: "I learned I like hanging out with the students after I volunteered with kids doing community service, and I want to give back to the community." 

What he expects: "I want to give parents a sense of security. We’ve saw that need and we filled it."