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School Safety Discussed at Law Enforcement Committee Meeting
Posted on January 04, 2013
The Law Enforcement Committee met this morning to discuss school safety. Although this was an exploratory meeting and nothing was voted on, they nevertheless began the process for what should eventually lead to safer schools in Giles County.
Sheriff Kyle Helton is proposing that each of the eight county schools have a school resource officer, adding six officers to the two existing SROs. According to Helton, this would cost approximately $250,000. That figure includes salary, benefits, uniform, equipment, and police academy costs. There is no word yet on what this would mean for the taxpayer, as attempts are being made to secure state and federal grants. Nevertheless, the commissioners are confident that each school will eventually have an SRO officer.
Many of the school principals attended the meeting and were asked for their thoughts. All were positive about an SRO presence at each school, seeing it as a proactive measure rather than a reactive one. Many said they saw having an SRO at their school as a crime deterrent.
The members also discussed the fact that the schools are not designed for safety, Pulaski Elementary, in particular, has glass outside doors in most classrooms.
The committee plans to have more discussion
on these issues at a later time.
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