Sheriff's school lunch program

Sheriff Jim Hammond is visiting local schools for the same reasons students attend -- to learn.

He tours the building with the principal, meets with the school resource officer assigned there and eats lunch with students. But the most important aspect is his commitment to better know his SROs, he said.

"One of the things I was ignorant of, and I think the public may be, is the degree to which the SROs interact with these students," the sheriff said. "This is not a cop-in-the-halls program. This is a mentoring program."

Sheriff Hammond began visiting schools in October, heading first to Hixson and Central high schools. He plans to visit two schools each month until he sees every school that has an SRO. Then he'll re-evaluate and see if there's a need to go to other schools. He's dubbed the meetings the "sheriff's school lunch program."

"It gives me a chance to know my officers and gives me a chance to see what are the issues facing the students," he said.

In November, he visited Orchard Knob Middle. Visits to Loftis Middle School and Ooltewah High School are scheduled for December.

He eats lunch in the cafeteria, banters in the halls with students and talks briefly with teachers. He's been impressed with the cleanliness and discipline at the schools, as well as the calming influence the SRO has on teachers and students.

Some teachers seem surprised to see him in their schools, he added.

"I usually have the teachers recognize me more than the students," Sheriff Hammond said. "I don't fit into the popular culture of the young people."

The SROs work longer than the school day, attending dances, sporting events and pep rallies.

G.A. Bennett, director of support services for the sheriff's office, said he recently saw an SRO at a local store buying books for young people.

"They're very serious about all that," Mr. Bennett said.

Hamilton County Schools spokeswoman Danielle Clark said the sheriff's visits also benefit students, who can see a positive law enforcement role model up close.

And it also helps the sheriff, she said.

"He gets a firsthand view of what's going on in our schools," Ms. Clark said. "He gets to see it with his own eyes, see what administrators and SROs face in providing a safe and secure environment for our students."

Sheriff Hammond has visited

* Central High School

* Hixson High School

* Orchard Knob Middle School

Source: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office