CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey wants county commissioners to give him $500,000 so he can fund school resource officers in schools.
The amount would be enough to give all middle schools that extra protection and allow other officers to check on elementary schools more often.
The sheriff thinks the officers will be there to help keep the peace and prevent trouble. "They are there to listen to what's going on in the schools," Cathey said. "Drugs, crime, bullying."
Porter Ridge Middle school principal Bashawn Harris thinks that is a good idea. "I think it would add another level of support for safety," Harris said. "Safety is a concern for all schools and principals."
The principal even thinks relationships would form between student and officer.
"Students will be able to go to the sheriff's officer that's here," the principal said. "And communicate things that are going on throughout the school they might not communicate to the teacher."
Cathey has been trying for about 10 years to get the money to fund officers in middle schools. Officers are stationed in all Union county high schools, but not in all middle and elementary schools.
"Maybe it will give us information," the sheriff said. "To keep a person from selling drugs in our schools."
Union county commissioners will start talking about the budget Monday, March 18. "Money can't always be the major concern," Harris said. "I think the major support of students is what we need to look at."
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