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Thomasville council repurposes funded school officer into community resource officer after 4-1 vote
Summary
The Thomasville City Council voted 4-1 on Aug. 18, 2025, to reclassify an existing Elementary School Resource Officer position as a Community Resource Officer, a change the police chief said will not increase city costs but drew concern from one council member about school safety.
The Thomasville City Council on Aug. 18 approved converting an already-budgeted Elementary School Resource Officer (SRO) position into a Community Resource Officer (CRO), a move proponents said will expand neighborhood outreach without adding new city costs.
Police Chief Dustin Carter asked the council to reclassify the position, saying the CRO would serve as a visible liaison between the Thomasville Police Department and the public, help organize community events, assist downtown businesses, lead neighborhood safety efforts and connect at-risk residents with services. Chief Carter said the change would repurpose a position the city had funded for one year while the school system arranged longer-term funding for SROs.
Council Member JacQuez Johnson moved to block the transition but did not receive a second; Johnson said he supported the idea of a community officer in principle but was concerned about removing an officer from elementary schools amid ongoing worries about school violence. Council Member Scott Styers moved to approve the transition, and Council Member Hunter Thrift seconded the motion. The council approved the change 4-1; Johnson cast the lone vote against the measure.
Council discussion focused on the expected funding arrangement with the school system. Chief Carter clarified the city had initially funded the position for one year with the understanding that the school system would assume the cost thereafter, which had not occurred. Supporters argued the CRO would provide a dedicated point of contact for community safety and downtown development needs without requiring a new line-item in the municipal budget.
Outcome and next steps: The council approved the personnel reclassification by formal motion. The action was a reclassification of an existing, city-funded position; no new appropriations were reported at the meeting.
