Armed Bradley County deputy sheriff is now stationed at Bradley Central High School
After past school shootings around the nation and recent school threats directed at local schools, Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson has held several discussions with Dr. Linda Cash and school officials about the importance of ensuring security at schools.
Earlier this week, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office implemented an additional layer of security at Bradley Central High School and Walker Valley High School. An armed deputy sheriff is now assigned to a security booth at both campuses in order to monitor individuals who come and leave the school campuses during the school day.
Sheriff Watson said, “It is my belief a strong presence of trained law enforcement at schools is one of the essential elements to deter a school shooting.”
The sheriff’s office is currently responsible for security at 16 schools within the Bradley County School system, with each school having an assigned school resource officer. In 2014, Sheriff Watson added a school resource officer to Bradley Central High School because of the building’s complex design which makes it difficult to monitor the security of students during the school day. Within the past four years, four positions have been added to the school resource officer program through the partnership of Dr. Linda Cash and Bradley County School Board.
Sheriff Watson said, “While law enforcement officers provide security for schools, this should not be the only concentrated effort to ensure the safety of students and faculty. Our agency will continue having conversations with school administrators to explore securing school’s multiple entrances, while adding and enhancing surveillance cameras, communications systems, and identification
badges.”
Armed Bradley County deputy sheriff is now stationed at Walker Valley High School