$1.2-Million Needed To Fund Additional SRO's

(L-R) Sheriff Robert Arnold and Rutherford County Schools Director Don Odom.

As a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Connecticut, the Public Safety Committee of the Rutherford County Commission has asked Sheriff Robert Arnold to let them know the budget needed to place a School Resource Officer (SRO) in every school that's under the direction of the county system.

At a press conference Tuesday morning (1/8/2013), Sheriff Arnold released those figures . . .

Rutherford County Schools' Director Don Odom was there to show support of the program. In addition to having an officer in every school, the question arose about having trained, armed educational personnel in schools. He said . . .

A little over an hour after the sheriff's press conference ended, the gavel sounded which opened Tennessee's 108th session of the General Assembly. The issue of selected armed personnel in schools is one of the legislations being considered. 

A WGNS survey with almost 5,000 responses shows approximately 94 per cent favor trained educational personnel going armed in schools. 

The additional SRO's would be located in county elementary schools, since every high school already has two officers at each of the six campuses. There is an SRO assigned to Central Magnet School, Holloway High School, Daniel McKee Alternative School, Smyrna West Alternative School and Eagleville School (K-12). In addition, one SRO is assigned to each of the ten middle schools, and one is shared at two elementary schools. 

Sheriff Arnold will present his report to the County Commission's Public Safety Committee at 5:30 this coming Thursday night (1/10/2013).