Rural County Schools Get Resource Officers

Rural schools in Pottawatomie County are about to get some new law enforcement on campus. A grant has paved the way for the Sheriff's Office to expand it's school resource officer program. Right now schools outside of cities like Shawnee, have no police presence outside of the County Sheriffs office. The department has one part time deputy who splits his time across three schools, leaving about a half dozen others, and thousands of children with none. But thanks to a new grant, Sheriff Mike Booth says he will expand the program up to six deputies across six schools. "The School Resource Officer Program is one we've wanted to do for awhile," Sheriff Booth said. After the deadly Newtown shooting in Connecticut Sheriff Booth says he was approached by retired police officers and deputies who wanted to help, "They asked what can I do, can I go into the schools and spend time with the kids?" Sheriff Booth added. Bethel Middle School is about 5 miles outside Shawnee, right now it is one of three school already getting a part time Deputy, "The service has really been beneficial," Principal Tina Moon adds that it is a service that should be at every school. Sheriff Booth hopes to have the program up and running in a matter of days as kids start the spring semester.
Mark Taylor
Fox 25 News
MeTaylor@okcfox.com
Rural County Schools Get Resource Officers

Posted: Monday, January 7 2013, 09:21 PM CST