News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County school resource officers have received tactical training in active shooter response.
Chief Deputy Bob Crabtree said the training exercises combine with other security measures protecting the county’s children.
Deputy David Harding addresses Putnam County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers. (Photo: PCSO)
“Sheriff Farris and his administration want to make sure that the SROs that are in the schools are some of the best. We’re not just putting anybody in the schools…the SROs that are there now are some of the best that we have,” Crabtree said. “Obviously, the safety of the students, administration, and faculty on each campus is very important to us.”
All 15 SRO’s spent five days going through intense training exercises under the leadership of Deputy David Harding. Harding is an Iraq war veteran and leader of the PCSO Swat Team.
Deputies trained on drawing fire away from intended targets, engaging the assailant, and how to effectively take down the threat.
“It’s a course designed to put school resource officers in the worst case scenario,” Harding said. “God forbid something bad was to happen, they’ve been inoculated with that stress before and know what to expect now.”
Crabtree said a second training event will take place later this year.
“This was our inaugural class and we’ve got a very good response from this,” Crabtree said. “We are going to be having another class in July and we’re going to open it up to other departments.”
The 15 SROs patrol 21 schools across the county. Crabtree said the sheriff’s office is working to place an SRO in each county school.
