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State official briefs Kingstree on funded School Resource Officer program
Summary
Chief Kimberly Marlow and a state program manager outlined a state-funded School Resource Officer program that reimburses officers’ salaries and equipment; the town was urged to select SROs carefully and Anderson Primary was recommended for placement.
Kingstree’s police chief requested at least one School Resource Officer (SRO) for Anderson Primary during the July 21 council meeting, and a state program manager described an ongoing, funded push to place SROs in schools across South Carolina.
Chief Kimberly Marlow said South Carolina Public Safety contacted the Kingstree Police Department about adding SROs. Mike Tucker, identified as the state program manager, told the council the state has about $56 million in recurring funds to help place resource officers in schools across the state and that the program reimburses full salary, training, fringe, equipment and provides a car.
"SRO is a triad for the school... When SROs build rapport with the children then the children inform the SROs about not only what is going on in school but in the community," Tucker said, emphasizing that choosing the right officer is critical. The program requires officers to be on campus during normal school hours, and when school is closed officers may return to department duties, providing flexibility for smaller departments.
Council members expressed support for the program and for using available resources to improve school safety; no formal vote was recorded on adopting SROs during the meeting.
