News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Officials are commending a Cumberland County School Resource Officer for uncovering a school shooting plot at South Cumberland Elementary.
Cumberland County Sheriff Casey Cox said the quick work by Deputy Anthony Loshbough may have saved dozens of lives.
“I’ll have to say I’m very proud of Deputy Loshbough,” Cox said. “He does an amazing job. If you’ve met the guy, he is a very caring and compassionate guy. But he has a very firm outside with a heart of a teddy bear on the inside. He cares for his kids. I feel very safe for the staff and the children, and I would love to know that Anthony Loshbough was my SRO.”
County commissioners approved emergency funding last year to supply each of the district’s 12 schools with an SRO.
Director of Schools Janet Graham said incidents like this prove that the additional SROs make a difference.
“Kids know that these people are trying to keep them safe, and I think the parents feel that way because the parents sometimes make those calls from conversations the kids have had at home,” Graham said. “We’re very, very proud that we have resource officers and have had them in each of the schools.”
Cumberland County Public Information Officer Gary Howard said SROs have already built strong connections with students in their short time at the school system.
“These are our kids we’re supporting. When we go into these schools, we take care of our kids,” Howard said. “When we’ve got school resource officers there, everyday we get high-fives, we get hugs, they love us and we love them. When something like this comes up, we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure our kids are safe.”
Authorities arrested two sixth-grade students Friday after uncovering a hand-drawn map of the elementary school, along with plans to sneak weapons into lockers to use on the last day of school.
District Attorney Bryant Dunaway said the students will be charged as juveniles.
