Allen County Schools now has a school resource officer in each of its four schools throughout each school day.

Through partnerships with the Scottsville Police Department and the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, the district began stationing a school resource officer at each of its schools, whereas previously the district had two SROs, each splitting their time between two schools.

According to Scottsville police Chief Jeff Pearson, the district’s decision to add new SROs was motivated by recent school shootings at Marshall County High School in western Kentucky and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

“They tried to jump and cover all four schools after the Marshall and the Florida shootings,” he said.

Pearson said SROs weren’t the only option for making schools safer the school board discussed.

“The school board held a meeting,” he said. “Like everywhere else, they were discussing arming teachers and I think they decided having an SRO in every school was a better option.”

Justin Marsh, chair of the board of education, said the school board, after looking at other alternatives, decided to station two more SROs in the district to cover all the district’s schools throughout the day.

“We’re just trying to be proactive, to hopefully stop something like that from happening,” he said, referring to the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas shooting.

Officer Charles Swiney with SPD, who was hired as an SRO after retiring from Kentucky State Police, now patrols Allen County Intermediate Center, Pearson said. Capt. Bobby Jackson, who used to split his time between the intermediate center and James E Bazzell Middle School, is now solely responsible for the middle school, Pearson said.

Sgt. Nick Tabbert with the sheriff’s office now patrols Allen County Primary Center, Sheriff Jeff Cooke said.

Deputy Jeff Centers, who previously covered the primary center and Allen County-Scottsville High School, now patrols the high school exclusively, Cooke said.

Both of the new SROs began Monday, Cooke said.

Shawn Holland, principal of the Allen County Intermediate Center, which teaches students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, said he appreciates the school board’s decision to bring on two new SROs.

“I am very thankful to have someone here all the time, a visible presence,” he said.

Holland said the new SROs make the district more secure than when Jackson was going back and forth between the intermediate center and the middle school.

“He would have to split time between us and the middle school so with the addition of officer Swiney, we now have an officer here all day every day,” he said.

In addition to providing extra security for the district, the increased SRO presence will allow the district and local law enforcement agencies to foster a positive relationship with local youngsters, Holland said.

“Having someone here who they see every day and they interact with on a positive basis gives those kids, they’ll know they have someone to go to if they ever have problems with anything,” he said.

Sgt. Tabbert with the sheriff’s office said he volunteered to take the SRO position at the primary center because he wanted to establish connections with youngsters in the community to foster a better relationship between law enforcement and the population.

“I can show them we’re good,” he said. “We’re not here to take you to jail. We’re here to help you.”

So far, he said, the students have noticed and appreciated his presence.

“All the kids, they’re excited to see you,” he said. “You get all sorts of hugs and high fives.”