By Brandon Martin
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors is committed to the School Resource Officer program, even as it is being reviewed by other school districts.
“We are a rural community,” Jane Fulk, board chairman, said. Schools in Patrick County are spread out in various communities, and most are not in close proximity to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office. That distance likely would affect response time in cases of an emergency.
Fulk, of the Dan River District, added that she has always been in favor of the SRO program.
School districts like those in Charlottesville plan to discontinue the program based on reports like one from the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC), which states, in part, that “Virginia’s school system is charging black students, and black girls at an accelerating rate, with disorderly conduct—a vague, catch-all law that criminalizes low-level public disruption that does not rise to the level of physical harm, property damage, or even threat—unequally compared to their white counterparts.”
Clyde DeLoach, of the Blue Ridge District, said that there is an SRO at each of the schools in Patrick County with “one extra that fills in and does a regular patrol.”
Noting that he also is in favor of the program, “I did mention maybe we could share one between schools but that was mostly for financial reasons,” Deloach said, adding that the cost of the program was discussed at several work sessions as the board worked to craft the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Denise Stirewalt, of the Peters Creek District, said that she is unaware of any calls to remove the SRO program from Patrick schools.
“Although our local schools have other security measures in place, I feel it’s very important to have SRO presence in each school, not only for added protection, but for the opportunity to mentor the students,” Stirewalt said. “SROs can foster positive relationships between students, teachers, and law enforcement. In many cases, the only guidance and support students receive is from school officials and SROs. We are very fortunate to have wonderful, caring SROs for our students.”
Stirewalt said at a June 2 budget work session, the county pays $45,000 in overtime for an SRO assigned to Patrick Springs Elementary School.
At that session, Crystal Harris, vice chairman and of the Smith River District, said “I feel sure in my heart that that’s a needed thing. But the SRO should be assigned to one school. There should be no overtime.”
Noting that SROs also teach drug education, Harris said that SROs are a positive influence in the lives of young children. “I feel like in the elementary school is where we first reach the children.”
While schools are closed during the pandemic, officials said that SROs were reassigned to work on the road and/or participate in training at the law enforcement academy.
Mayo River District Supervisor Clayton Kendrick said that he also is convinced that SROs “are something we need.”
He said that as security at the schools continues to get better, “looking for ways to cut costs” surrounding SROs is something that needs to be addressed. However, he thinks “it’s pretty unanimous among the board” that the county does not eliminate the SRO program.
