School Resource Officer Matt Roe was named the Bubba Howell Officer of the Year

Dec 18, 2015 at 09:14 am by bryan


School Resource Officer Matt Roe was named the Bubba Howell Officer of the Year for the SRO Division and SRO Daniel Thomas earned the Reggie Farmer Leadership Award.

The Officer of the Year Award is named after the late SRO Howell, who was passionate about caring for his students at Rockvale Elementary School, said SRO Capt. Barry Hendrixson. The Leadership Award is named after the late Farmer who served as a leader at Kittrell Elementary, the SRO Division and his country while serving in the military.

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Also, SROs Chad Dodson, Carl Watts and John Heath earned the Impact Award for achievements.

Sgt. Irvin Turner, who nominated SRO Roe, said his attitude is exceptional in his duties as the SRO at John Coleman Elementary.

SRO Roe started the Archery Club last year and the Bowling Club this year. He initiated the SRO Pop Cans for the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville. He collects the soft drink tabs from soda cans from each class. At the end of the quarter, he buys pizza for the class with the most tabs.

Other events include serving as a RAD Kids instructor, talking to parents for Operation Integrity, helping distribute food to homeless students each week, teaching archery and mentoring students.

SRO Thomas of Holloway High School volunteered to supervise the School Crossing Officers unit.

Capt. Hendrixson said SRO Thomas monitors the 70 crossing guards, coordinates assignments and changes due to absences, equipping the officers and reviewing time sheets. He helps resolve complaints.

"Daniel receives this award for not only volunteering, but meeting expectations and doing it well," Capt. Hendrixson said.

In the Impact Awards, SRO Dodson of Oakland Middle started the Defense Response Improving Vehicle Education program is geared to teens ages 16-19, said SRO Chad Dodson, who is the DRIVE coordinator. Students receive personal training from Sheriff's Office driving instructors on both the classroom and the driving experience, preferably with the vehicle they intend to drive.

SRO Sgt. David Crim said DRIVE students receive personal training from Sheriff's Office driving instructors in the classroom and the driving course. The program has impacted nearly 100 Rutherford County juveniles.

This program focuses on students who have received citations for speeding and other moving violations as an alternative to loss of the Tennessee restricted driver's license.

Sgt. Tim Hayes said SRO Carl Watts was honored for taking over the school safety drills. He developed the tabletop exercise and crisis drills, giving each principal a summary of the drill results at their schools.

Sgt. Mark Sharp said SRO John Heath coaches one of the most successful wrestling programs in Tennessee. Wrestlers come from elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. He has coached several wrestlers who won state championships.

SROs receiving the Apple Award for teaching the most classes in their grade levels were SRO George Brown and SRO Larry McMahan and SRO Bucky Watts.

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