THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – School Resource Officer Nicholas Palomino made a sweet first impression on the Thousand Oaks High School campus, arriving armed with donuts on Tuesday morning.

Palomino, an eight-year veteran of the Ventura County Police Department, arrived on campus with over 360 donuts. This was only his fifth day as the new SRO, and he wanted to start building relationships right from the get-go.

“We wanted to give back to the students for being so welcoming,” said Palomino. “Who doesn’t like donuts?”

Palomino took over the role of Student Resource Officer from Niki Pompataog, who received a promotion. Palomino, who has always enjoyed teaching and mentoring, saw the opening as a chance to apply his patrol experience in a school environment where he could impact young lives.

“I want to be a resource to kids that need help,” said Palomino. “Being able to help the next generation, the kids coming up, is the goal. There are a lot of students who just need a little extra help. If I can be that person they feel comfortable talking to, then I’m doing my job.”

Students appreciated the good deed from Palomino.

“It was a nice sight to see boxes of donuts stacked up as you walked in,” said sophomore Braeden Rice. “I had to interview Officer Palomino for a segment of the Lancer Lately.”

The Lancer Lately is scheduled to be released by the Associated Student Body on Friday.

Throughout the week, CVUSD SROs have been visiting all four comprehensive high schools in the CVUSD – Thousand Oaks High School, Westlake High School, Newbury Park High School and Conejo Valley High School– each bringing donuts to get acclimated with students. The SROs hope to make these donut visits an annual back-to-school tradition.

“I encourage more of them to come up and say hi,” said Palomino. “My door is always open. I’m not just here to enforce the law. I want to be a resource for students who need help.”