Anderson District Five needs more school resource officers

ANDERSON CO., S.C. (WSPA) – Anderson District Five said school is in full swing and they need more school resource officers to fill the hallways.

Sergeant Steven Cole has been a school resource officer for nine years. He has been temporarily filling in at Robert Anderson Middle School for three weeks.

“Normally I get here at 7:40-7:45 a.m.. For the time being, I’ve been helping with the traffic as a crossing guard. After that’s done, I come in and walk the school grounds just to make sure doors are not propped open and they’re locked and secured. It’s about being a presence in school for the staff and the teachers and the students,” said Sgt. Steven Cole.

Sergeant Cole said the job is more than just holding down the fort and protecting those inside the school. He said creating a bond with students and making a difference in their lives is the most rewarding part.

“Building those relationships goes far. If they can see us in a positive light and I say us as in law enforcement in a positive light in the school interacting with them then they will likely approach us out in public,” said Sgt. Cole.

District leaders said there are 21 school resource officers in the district but they would like to have 23.

“We try to go by the National Association for School Resource Officers and their best practices recommendation as far as having one SRO per 1000 students enrolled in a school,” said Lt. Gregg Hayden.

High schools require two SROs.

“Bigger area to cover, bigger school campus and alot more activities than what a middle school or elementary school would have,” said Lt. Hayden.

School resource officers report to their assigned school before the bell rings and dismiss when everyone is out of the building.

“You gotta have a servant’s heart. I mean as far as doing this job you gotta be able to want to serve people and that’s my main goal,” said Sgt. Cole.

If you are interested in making a difference in a student’s life by serving and protecting classrooms, click here to apply.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said previous SRO experience is preferred or class one certification.

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