DEPUTY SELECTED ON-CAMPUS OFFICER.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

The deputy selected to be the first full-time officer stationed at Moorpark High is a 27-year-old graduate of the school who holds a master's degree in public administration, officials said Wednesday.

Deputy Juan Ponce, who has lived most of his life in Moorpark, will start Monday as resource officer at the 2,000-student campus.

``I'm looking forward and I'm very excited about the position,'' Ponce said.

Ponce was one of two sheriff's deputies who applied for the position, said Moorpark Police Sgt. Ron Nelson, who chaired the four-person panel that unanimously recommended his appointment to Capt. Mike Lewis, head of the Moorpark Police Department.

``It was a tough choice,'' said Nelson. ``But we chose Juan because not only is he well qualified, but he's well-known in Moorpark and has a lot of education that is an asset for him as a guest-lecturer at the school.''

Ponce, who holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and themaster's from California Lutheran University, will hold office hours for students looking for advice and will likely teach law enforcement-related classes, officials said.

Ponce said he wanted to change the daunting image of police he recalled students having during his days at Moorpark High. Being a former Moorpark student will help, he said.

``I want to turn that around within a few weeks of being there,'' said Ponce, currently a patrol officer. ``I want them to feel comfortable so they can approach me and ask me questions.''

The $114,500 annual cost of stationing Ponce at the school includes salary, benefits and equipment and will be funded by a $10,000 one-time grant from the Rotary Club, $41,000 from the school district and the balance paid by the city.

Appointment of the officer was first proposed last year by Steve Sill, then-president of the local Rotary Club who offered the seed money, but the appointment received added urgency following the massacre of students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in April.

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PHOTO (color -- ran in Simi edition only) PONCE