Wadesboro Town Council approved a school resource officer for Wadesboro Primary and Elementary in a 3-1 vote for the upcoming school year.
“We’ve gathered as much information,” said Town Manager, David Edwards.
The SRO will be a full-time officer, and move between the Primary and Elementary schools each day.
“Eventually, it’s going to happen all over the United States,” said Anson County Schools Superintendent Michael Freeman
Freeman said that the WPD gets to the schools as fast as they can when there is an incident, but there have been several cases that he could discuss in a closed session with the board that would show why there needs to be an SRO at the schools.
Examples given included teachers, counselors and social workers being in fear for their lives or being assaulted; and Freeman having to negotiate alone in life-threatening instances.
Mayor Bill Thacker said a part-time officer was suggested and in discussion. He also said that using a security company that has eligible candidates for the position.
Opposed, Councilman Bobby Usrey suggested that a part-time SRO that would work 20 hours a week between the schools, without benefits.
“If we go with security, they still have to be criminal justice certified in order to have arresting power,” said Wadesboro Police Chief Thedis Spencer. “If we go with security, they would still have to contact law enforcement if something happens.
“I’ve been researching some things,” Spencer said. “In middle school, students look at us in a bad light because they think we’re the bad guys.”
Spencer said that through the national research for SROs, he found out that at a certain age group, there were issues. He added that at that age level, around middle school aged students look at law enforcement in a negative light.
“With all the bad things happening involving law enforcement, we haven’t given them enough insight,” Spencer said. “It’s not just about safety.”
He also said that it’s about more than gun violence to; and also about getting students to understand and trust law enforcement.
“We need to get them to understand law enforcement, how to deal with law enforcement, to understand that law enforcement is not here to hurt them, in order to have the respect that everyone needs,” Spencer said. “We need to catch them at the elementary school.”
He added that looking at the poverty level and single-parent housing is necessary.
“We need the kids to gain respect, and for us to do the same thing,” Spencer said.
Usrey said that it appeared that Spencer is looking for a mentor more than safety.
Spencer said there are children that are not in good environments that have less respect for officers than students that are in a great environment.
Before the vote, Peachland-Polkton was the only elementary school that had an SRO agent.
The new SRO will be an internal hire from the WPD, which Edwards said that several officers have expressed interest.