High school resource officers paramount to collective safety

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – On April 20, 1999, a school shooting and attempted bombing occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Fast forward to 2023 and school security is heightened, and law enforcement can be found on campuses nationwide

Yet, the epidemic continues!

“We do all we can to keep students safe,” said Marshall County High School Resource Officer Tracy Watwood.

At Marshall County High School, a deadly shooting persuaded the school to increase their security the previous four years.

Watwood says keeping students safe is of the utmost importance.

“So, in the past four and a half years, we have increased our numbers from one to now we currently have eleven full time and a couple of part-time guys that come and help when needed,” said Watwood.

For a week in Perryville, Mo., a recent school threat that terrorized students and staff had an increase in law enforcement.

“We need people to stop and think about what they’re doing. any time we get these types of threats, it doesn’t only endanger the lives of our officers who are, you know, responding to these calls, it also has an emotional and mental effect on students, staff, and parents as well,” said Jeri Cain with the Perryville Police Department.

School resource officer, Teresa Worthington for Perryville High School, says the school utilizes professional development days for school resource training with faculty and staff members.

“I have done PD with our staff. We’ve done vaping, trending drugs, and security has always been at the forefront of those days,” she said.

Since 2000, more than 678 shootings with casualties in elementary and secondary schools have occurred.