A.H. Roberts, REACH Academy To Get School Resource Officers

Every school inside Livingston city limits will soon have a School Resource Officer (SRO).

The Overton County School System has received an $87,500 grant to add SRO’s at A.H. Roberts Elementary and REACH Academy. City Councilman Ronald Dishman said those officers will come from the Livingston Police Department.

“I compliment Greg (Chief Etheredge) and the school system both because I think it’s needed. We have’t had anything happen here yet, but folks we’ve got to face it because it could happen here any day,” Dishman said. “This way, hopefully we’ve got it covered.”

The police department already provides SRO’s to Livingston Academy and Livingston Middle School. Police Chief Greg Etheredge said the state funded grant will cover salaries and equipment for the new officers.

“We’ll have SRO’s in every school,” Etheredge said. “We’ve been doing some double duties for several years now and all the county schools have SRO’s. It’s just a great opportunity for us.”

The Livingston City Council voted to approve the grant contract during Monday night’s meeting. That allows Etheredge to move forward with hiring the two officers.