Tullahoma Assessing Benefits Of More SRO’s

While Franklin County has made a move to add eight school resource officers (SRO) to the four it has in its school system, Tullahoma is assessing benefits versus cost and whether to move forward with implementing officers beyond the high school level. One officer is assigned to Tullahoma High School, but shooting in Connecticut last December that left 26 dead has sparked a drive for school systems throughout the nation to improve campus security. Tullahoma City Schools director Dr. Dan Lawson says a meeting was held last week with the system’s principals and Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell to assess campus safety. Lawson said that another meeting is to be held Friday, Feb. 15 with Mayor Lane Curlee and City Administrator Jody Baltz. Lawson said the school system has been assisted by the Tullahoma Police Department with an increased police presence in all campuses and building exteriors and interiors frequently visited on regular patrol beats.