The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department works to ensure the safety of the students, staff, and visitors to the rural schools in Buchanan County. With the need to ensure security and safety in today’s society, Sheriff Mike Strong has taken proactive steps to not only start a School Resource Officer Unit within the Department, but to expand the SRO Unit to each rural school building in the County. Sheriff Strong is pleased to announce that on January 13 every rural school in the County had a full-time dedicated School Resource Officer assigned to the school.

Joining Deputy Sarah Hardin in the School Resource Officer Unit are: Deputy David Garon as the SRO for Bessie Ellison School; Deputy Ridge Steele as the SRO for East Buchanan Middle School; Deputy Josh Rudisill as the SRO for Buchanan County R-IV Middle/ High School; and Deputy Matt Shute as the SRO for Buchanan County R-IV Elementary School. Deputy Garon, Deputy Steele, Deputy Rudisill and Deputy Shute have been members of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department since 2011 and have displayed a strong desire to work with youths in a school setting.

The SRO’s duties are designed for maximum exposure in full uniform and marked patrol vehicle at their assigned school. The duties also include coordinating school safety plans and being utilized for assisting in consulting, programs and special school events. The SRO is equipped and trained to respond to any law enforcement incidents at the school including a possibly armed suspect.

Sheriff Strong started the School Resource Officer program in 2005 with Deputy Hardin at Mid-Buchanan R-V and believes that having a consistent officer in the building allows the students and staff to build relationships. Sheriff Strong also believes that the School Resource Officer Program is an invaluable resource to protect the young people in our community