Sheriff may shift 3 SROs to patrol duty

With less than two weeks until the start of classes, some Hamilton County schools could open doors without familiar faces — their school resource officers.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office staffs 22 deputies at 18 schools, but shortages in the patrol division mean that Sheriff Jim Hammond may pull three SROs back to the streets.

“We’re already cut to the bone,” Hammond said. “I can tell you about the days officers wanted overtime, but now it’s burning them out.”

Hammond wants to meet with Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and Police Chief Bobby Dodd about using city police officers in some of the schools.

There are 74 deputies assigned to patrols, including eight sergeants and four lieutenants.

Littlefield’s office deferred comment to the chief. Dodd said he’d spoken briefly with the sheriff, who’d asked him for help with two schools.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to assisting him with two (officers),” he said, but did not name the schools.

But the chief said he’s short 63 officers and has 40 eligible for retirement, so finding the people to move comes at a cost.

There are 414 sworn officers in the Chattanooga Police Department.

Before the city and county schools merged in 1997, Chattanooga police served as SROs at some city schools, Dodd said. Putting some city officers back in schools could generate benefits for community connections and crime tips, he said. And having city and county officers work together would aid cooperation.

Dodd said he would have to meet with the mayor and sheriff before knowing what route the departments will take.

Hixson High School principal Christine Couch said having an SRO “is absolutely a must.”

The officers understand the culture and context when they interact with students, families and teachers, she said.

Often if a student gets into trouble, even overnight or on a weekend, the SRO will tell her, she said, which helps prevent a problem from spilling over into the school.

But the most tangible benefit is the immediate response to security problems, she said. If Hixson High loses its SRO and an incident occurs, school officials must wait for a patrol response.

The county SRO program began in 1996 and was put on hold from 2000 until 2006, said Capt. Charles Lowery Jr., who heads the program.

If Chattanooga police are able to assist deputies, the captain said he would partner them with SROs in schools that are staffed with two officers, such as Brainerd High School and Howard School of Academics and Technology.

The connection between deputies and students is “invaluable,” he said.

“The kids now know there is a source available to them that they can go to in confidence and discuss whatever the situation is,” he said.

Lowery emphasized the “resource part” of “school resource officer,” saying that deputies often will connect parents with other services and can explain legal options to administrators, since not all situations involve an arrest.