Preston Elementary School to get first school resource officer

PRESTON, Md. – In just a matter of days, Preston Elementary School will be the first primary school to have a school resource officer in Caroline County.

This move comes after the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 was signed requiring all public schools to have either a school resource officer or plans for adequate law enforcement coverage before the next school year.

“The commissioners have made it a priority to enhance school safety throughout the county,” said Caroline County Sheriff Randy Bounds.

As of now Preston Elementary will be the only primary school in Caroline County to have a full-time school resource officer, according to Sheriff Bounds.

But, he said the county is working hard to provide a school resource officer for every other school.

“At the present time the municipal police department is doing an excellent job of covering those schools, but we would just like to have a full-time resource officer in those areas,” said Sheriff Bounds.

The Sheriff also said that because Preston does not have their own police department, the county felt a need to give them a school resource officer first.

“With recent events of course in the news with school safety, it is our number one priority not only here at Preston Elementary School, but I know at Caroline County Public Schools, so it’s very important for us to have a school resource officer,” said the Principal of Preston Elementary School, Dr. Kari Clow.

Officials also said the school resource officer will not only be walking through the area to help enhance security, but also to develop relationships with students.

“Families, students staff, we know each other very well so that school resource officer is just going to be another layer of adding to that small hometown-feel community school, getting to know the students helping and assisting us with any issues that we may see,” said Clow.