To Serve and Protect
Harlan County High School’s School Resource Officers
Tammy Robinson, Career and Technical Education
Nothing compares to knowing you are safe and protected. When you enter the doors of the Black Bears’ School, the feeling of safety is most definitely emulated. How is that safety known? You distinctly see police officers; they are easy to spot because they are in uniform. We have three full time officers in the Harlan County High school and a fourth that rotates in the elementary schools.
Uniformed police officers may intimidate some, but as a member of the faculty at the high school, it puts me at ease, as I’m sure it does every parent or guardian whose child attends HCHS. Along with our three full time officers who are here at all times, is our Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator, Jimmy Middleton. He is stationed at the Harlan County Board of Education, but is at the Harlan County High School almost every day. Mr. Middleton is perfect for the position he fills because he was a State Police Officer before he began his teaching career at Evarts High School.
Some people not involved with the Harlan County High School seemed to think we had police officers because we were afraid of trouble due to the consolidation of the three high schools. Actually, it is quite the opposite; the kids and administration have meshed together beautifully! The police officers are here to prevent trouble, everyday trouble: boyfriend/girlfriend, someone said something about me; you know the kind of things that infuriate high school kids!
Security in schools is nothing new. The concept of police officers in the school system was introduced to me when I did my student teaching at Tates Creek High School 26 ½ years ago! At that time, it did seem a little unusual, but I liked the idea of security being involved with education. Tates Creek also had patrolmen at the gates of the school; without the proper identification, you didn’t enter!
We’ve had police officers in the county schools for the last several years. The Harlan County Board of Education had a COPS Grant but sustained the police officers when the grant ran out; they knew the importance of children, faculty and staff being protected. It has always been a pleasure to have the officers with us. They aren’t here to intimidate; but, rather to give the feeling of protection. Their top responsibilities are law enforcement, to provide security, and to assist in routine discipline. Mr. Middleton said, “They are police officers – not security officers – and are to provide security and protection.”