The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office has abolished the school resource officer positions due to budgetary constraints imposed by the Dodge County Commissioners. Deputies will be pulled totally out of North Dodge Elementary School, South Dodge Elementary School and the Dodge County Middle School this week.
The board of commissioners cut the budget of the sheriff’s department by $78,595.00, which was the exact amount, allotted for school resource officers.
“The Dodge County School System is very grateful for having had our school resource officers for a number of years. Their service has been invaluable. Their presence in the schools has helped to deter issues that could have escalated and has given students the opportunity to form positive relationships with law enforcement officials,” stated Dodge County Superintendent Dr. Melinda Dennis.
A deputy, who is normally assigned to the courtroom, will be at the Dodge County High School on non-court days or as the sheriff’s department call/transport volume will allow, according to Dodge County Sheriff Jeff Hinson.
“Sheriff Hinson has guaranteed that we will still have a law enforcement presence because his duty officers will visit each of our schools, and we are appreciative of that commitment. The Dodge County schools will continue to investigate means of alternate funding so that we can regain these positions and continue our partnership with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department,” Dr. Dennis added.
“Through the years, the School Resource Officers have worked in collaboration with the schools and the community as resources for safety and security issues. They have helped educate students about the consequences of unacceptable behavior in and out of school, and they have been valuable liaisons between the schools, the community, and the Sheriff’s Department. We appreciate that the Sheriff’s Department, the community, and the Commissioners have provided this service for our system. We will miss having a Resource Officer on campus each day, but we hope that plans for the future will allow the program to be resumed,” stated Dodge County High School Principal Dr. Susan Long.
Deputy Tracy Hamilton, D.A.R.E. instructor at the elementary schools, has declined an offer to fill a vacant patrol deputy position.
North Dodge Elementary School Principal Mike Hilliard commented, “Resource officers are a tremendous asset to schools on campus and with community outreach. They will be missed.”
Deputy Randy Hall, who was assigned to the middle school, will be reassigned to a vacant road patrol position with the sheriff’s department.
“It is unfortunate that our county finds itself in a situation where these kinds of choices have to be made. I am hopeful that a solution can be found to keep the resource officers in our schools. The safety of our students is too important to be considered as an area of the budget that we can afford to cut,” stated Dodge County Middle School Principal Davey Sheffield.
Sheriff Hinson commented, “Deputies assigned as school resource officers have been a great asset to our kids and community. Deputies in the past have taught D.A.R.E and other classes such as bullying. Our county commissioners are facing an unprecedented budget crisis. The sheriff’s office has sustained significant budget cuts in addition to the targeted cuts for salaries for school resource officers. Unfortunately the sheriff’s office must use the remaining budgeted funds to focus on our core legally mandated duties which include: court duties, jail administration, and law enforcement duties. We still assist the Dodge County School system and the Eastman Police Department with problems at the schools that require law enforcement. We will just not keep a deputy stationed in the schools. It is my hope that funding will restored in the future that will allow Deputies to return to the schools on a daily basis.”
