Rutherford County’s School Resource Officers’ program crossed an international border when the only original county SROs trained Guam officers and educators to initiate a new SRO program.

The National Association of School Resource Officers contracted with Guam’s Department of Education to train about 35 school administrators, probation officers, educators, law enforcement officers and community aides about the program. Rutherford County SRO Sgt. Bill West, a regional NASRO director and former president in 2000, and instructors from Georgia and Texas, taught the 10-day class paid by Guam.

West was one of five original officers when Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Rutherford County Schools partnered to begin the SRO program in 1993, the first in Tennessee. West is a supervisor and is assigned as the SRO at Brown’s Chapel Elementary. There are now 44 SROs in all Rutherford County Schools with the K-5 SROs split between two elementary schools apiece.

Several Rutherford County SROs teach aspects of the program and specialty-related classes in Tennesseeand throughout the U.S.

Sheriff Robert F. Arnold said West’s selection to teach in Guam was a “great honor for Rutherford Countyto send him over there with no cost to the county.”

Teaching in Guam reminded West of when the program began at Riverdale, Oakland and La Vergne high schools and Smyrna and Central Middle schools.

“It kind of took me back 18 years ago when we started the program, how we blended two worlds together, law enforcement and education,” West recalled. “I think the SRO program has been very effective from Day One when we were allowed to get involved with the school and be a resource for the kids and families as well as the faculty and staff.”

The basic class in Guam covered the history, roles and responsibilities of the SRO and how NASRO emphasizes the triad concept of the SRO as law enforcement officer, educator and counselor in the school. The instructors discussed families, adolescents, school safety and security issues.

“It also helps train the new officers to be most effective in classroom settings while being able to get in and teach,” West explained.

West primarily taught the management class to administrators and police supervisors about the selection process, evaluations and foundations of school-based policing programs.

“Sheriff Arnold is a big supporter and believes in the mission of our program and allows us to teach for NASRO,” West said.

Capt. Barry Hendrixson said the SROs teach a variety of classes to other law enforcement officers, SROs, school administrators and educators.

Hendrixson has taught gang training in Rutherford County, Memphis and Dyersburg, Tenn.

Lt. Brad Harrison teaches crisis planning for school systems and active shooter training for law enforcement response. He developed and administered the crisis planning for Rutherford County Schools, which is modeled inTennessee and other states. He serves as the Rutherford County Response Committee representative for the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

“We teach at the Tennessee Association for School Resource Officers every year and at the Tennessee LawEnforcement Training Academy,” Harrison said.

SRO Kerry Nelson is a NASRO instructor, SRO Jason Urban teaches for the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Tennessee, SRO Dustin Cox teaches Collision Avoidance Training and SRO Bobby Farley teaches basic child abuse awareness for educators in training. SROs teach rape aggression defense and coordinate the Teen Education Alcohol Management programs about drinking under age.

SROs have taught classes for teachers at in-service and at MTSU and at community colleges too.

Sgt. Patty Hillis and SRO John Acton helped create the Senior Citizens Awareness Network to help mostly homebound seniors who may need help for home repairs and safety.

Hendrixson said the Rutherford County SRO program has earned several national awards such as SRO Program of the Year, Model SRO Agency in 2000 and Exemplary School Safety Program in 2010.

“It shows our SRO division has won national awards and is recognized as one of the best in the country and internationally,” Hendrixson said.