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12 attend SCC’s first basic school resource officer training program

Due to unfortunate events in places like Newtown, Conn., law enforcement agencies across the country have recognized a need to be more prepared than ever to protect students at school.





Participating in Southwestern Community College’s first basic school resource officer training were, front row, from left: Dereck Jones, Instructor SCC-PSTC; Laurie Beegle, Franklin Police Department; Stacey Posey, Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Bobby Ray, Franklin Police Department; Bill Edwards, Macon County Sheriff’s Office; Christie Moody, Swain County Sheriff’s Office; and Fred Penick, Swain County Sheriff’s Office. Back row, from left: Jeff Dumford, Macon County Sheriff’s Office; Steve Collins, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office; Rene' Clontz, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office; Doug Woodard, Swain County Sheriff’s Office; Josh Lyle, Waynesville Police Department; and Mike Davis, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.


That’s one reason why Maj. Shannon Queen of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office asked Southwestern Community College to offer its first basic school resource officer training this month.


A dozen law enforcement officers from five area counties participated in the training that was held from July 29-Aug. 2 at SCC’s Jackson Campus. The training was coordinated by Curtis Dowdle, SCC’s dean of public safety training.


“Any training needs we have ever needed from the PSTC and Mr. Dowdle has always been embraced with open arms,” Queen said.


“The resource officer training simply exemplifies our rapport with the college and the PSTC in general,” Queen added. “No matter if our request for training includes our in-service training, specialized training, or in this case a training that has not been offered before, Mr. Dowdle and the PSTC has never failed to excel at their delivery of training for our agency.”


Presented by Dereck Jones of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the training covered a variety of topics including the development of relationships necessary to function as a school resource officer and the dual objectives of prevention and enforcement.


Forty hours of instruction were provided.


“This training was a direct response to agency needs within our service area,” Dowdle said. “We’re already at work on delivering an ‘Advanced School Resource Officer Training.’ Our goal is to continue our tradition of providing excellence through training to public safety professionals everywhere.”


For more information about SCC’s Public Safety Training Center and its programs, call 828.306.7041 or click here.

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