Sheriff David Bartoni, School Resource Deputy Ron Howard, Chief Deputy Kyle Bacon, Patrol Lt. Kevin Roye
FRANKLIN COUNTY - The Franklin County Sheriff Department recently launched a new School Resource Program. It's meant to communicate and train with other municipal SRO programs but focus on having a deputy at the rural schools across the county.
Franklin County has several very rural schools. Ewing Grade school is one of them.
"We're the far north of Franklin County, so for someone to get out here to us, it takes a little while."
Which is why, for Ewing Superintendent Kristin Ing, proximity to law enforcement has always been part of her school's safety plan.
"As a school building and as a district, we've had lots of conversations about safety and what we have to do as a school building to make sure we're safe out here until we get assistance, if needed," Ing said of their rural location.
Ing said she was excited about the program. According to Franklin County Sheriff, Kyle Bacon, it was an overall positive reception from all the rural schools.
"They've been very welcoming and excited about the program, accommodating," Bacon said of participating school districts.
Bacon said it's not only about a presence at the schools, but also about schools having a direct liaison with the sheriff's department.
"We wanted them to have a specific phone number, a specific email address, someone who they can call at any time, they knew who it was and can address issues within the schools," he said of the new resource officer.
Along with having that direct connectivity, Bacon said, there are two primary goals with the program. Of course, the safety of students and staff within the school, but also, about students building trust with an officer.
"That he or she not a bad guy, they don't need to be afraid of a policeman," Bacon said. "He or she is there to help them, to assist them with whatever they may need."
Which, for Ing, sounds ideal...
"The fact of safety for our school district, building that rapport and relationship with the department and then my students being able to build that rapport with a police officer," Ing explained, "just understanding the role of that position, I just thought it would be very beneficial for our district."
