Since 1997, The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has placed a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) in all middle and high schools throughout the county. The School Resource Officer program is a nationally accepted program involving the placement of a law enforcement officer within the educational environment. In addition to providing law enforcement presence at the schools, SRO’s are role models for the students. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office currently has 50 deputies assigned to the School Resource Officer Program. There is an SRO in each elementary, middle and high school in Okaloosa County. We are very fortunate to have a strong relationship with the educators of the Okaloosa County and the unit works hand in hand with the Okaloosa County School District.
What is a School Resource Officer?
First and foremost, a SRO is a law enforcement officer. Each SRO provides a uniformed presence to their school campus. They are prepared and trained to protect the students and faculty from intruders, conduct criminal investigations and patrol their beat (the school). The SRO advises the school administration in safety and security matters as well as lending their expertise in law related issues. Our SRO’s also provide security for after-school events for their assigned schools.
Secondly, SRO’s are counselors. Each SRO has gained a wealth of information over his or her career, which is shared with the students, their parents and the school’s staff. They offer advice in law-related matters as well as resources for virtually any need a person might have. Each school and individual student has different needs, but the SRO is there to help any way necessary.
Thirdly, a SRO educates. Each School Resource Officer conducts classroom presentations on a variety of subjects including: law related education, crime and violence prevention, safety, and alcohol and drugs prevention. The deputies who are assigned as School Resource Officers are passionately invested in their schools and proud to be serving the families of Okaloosa County. The Resource Officer’s motto to the student is, “We are here for you, not because of you”.
The School Resource Officers program is supervised by Capt. Lenny Holloway, Lt. Brandon Finley, Sgt. Lynn Stevenson, Sgt. David Bowell, Sgt. Randall Joiner & Sgt. Jason Folley.
Together, the School District and the Sheriff’s Office are working constantly to implement new programs and provide students with the safest learning environment in which they can receive a quality education.
| SCHOOL | SRO | OFFICE PHONE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch Elementary | Alexandra Clausner | 850 683-7540 | Send E-Mail |
| Baker School | Patrick Legions | 850 689-7279 | Send E-Mail |
| Baker School | Matthew Christmas | 850 689-7279 | Send E-Mail |
| Bluewater Elementary | Taylor Joiner | 850 833-4240 | Send E-Mail |
| Bob Sikes Elementary | Tommy Frederick | 850 689-7268 | Send E-Mail |
| Bruner Middle School | Christopher Dykes | 850 833-3266 | Send E-Mail |
| Choctawhatchee High School | Destiny Callen | 850 833-3614 | Send E-Mail |
| Choctawhatchee High School | George DeShields | 850 833-3614 | Send E-Mail |
| CHOICE HS & Tech Center | 850 833-3500 | Send E-Mail | |
| Crestview High School | Mark Kane | 850 689-7177 | Send E-Mail |
| Crestview High School | 850 689-7177 | Send E-Mail | |
| Davidson Middle School | Shelby Buri | 850 683-7500 | Send E-Mail |
| Destin Elementary | Emily Olencki | 850 833-4360 | Send E-Mail |
| Destin Middle School | William Overbay | 850 833-7655 | Send E-Mail |
| Destin High School | Tom Henry | 850 582-3666 | Send E-Mail |
| Edge Elementary | Timothy Siren | 850 833-4138 | Send E-Mail |
| Edwins Elementary | John Wohlfarth | 850 833-3333 | Send E-Mail |
| Elliott Point Elementary | Michael Raiche | 850 833-3355 | Send E-Mail |
| Florosa Elementary | Willie Foster | 850 833-4381 | Send E-Mail |
| Fort Walton Beach High School | Patrick Swint | 850 833-3300 | Send E-Mail |
| Fort Walton Beach High School | Ethan Day | 850 833-3300 | Send E-Mail |
| Kenwood Elementary | Dalton Banach | 850 833-3570 | Send E-Mail |
| Laurel Hill School | Miguel Rojas | 850 652-4111 | Send E-Mail |
| Lewis School | Jermaine Scott | 850 833-4130 | Send E-Mail |
| Liza Jackson Prep | Sonya Shepard | 850 833-3321 | Send E-Mail |
| Longwood Elementary | Jonathan Card | 850 833-4329 | Send E-Mail |
| Mary Esther Elementary | William Overbay | 850 833-3474 | Send E-Mail |
| Meigs Middle School | Tyrone Thompson | 850 833-4301 | Send E-Mail |
| Niceville High School | Nicholas Hudson | 850 833-4114 | Send E-Mail |
| Niceville High School | Melissa Vause | 850 833-4114 | Send E-Mail |
| Northwest Florida Ballet Academie | Tim Sheldon | 850 664-7787 | Send E-Mail |
| Northwood Elementary | Amber Flanagan | 850 689-7252 | Send E-Mail |
| Calvary Christian Academy | Keith McCullough | Send E-Mail | |
| Okaloosa Technical College | Scott Spence | Send E-Mail | |
| Okaloosa STEMM School | Robert Culbertson | 850 833-4120 | Send E-Mail |
| Plew Elementary | Ed Haun | 850 833-4100 | Send E-Mail |
| Pryor Middle School | Matthew Self | 850 833-3613 | Send E-Mail |
| Richbourg/Best Chance | Timothy White | 850 689-5089 | Send E-Mail |
| Riverside Elementary | Tyler Thomason | 850 689-7203 | Send E-Mail |
| Ruckel Middle School | Chad Smith | 850 833-4142 | Send E-Mail |
| Shalimar Elementary | Lillu Vu | 850 833-4339 | Send E-Mail |
| Shoal River Middle School | Kristopher Staley | 850 689-7229 | Send E-Mail |
| Silver Sands | Ryan Burke | 850 833-3364 | Send E-Mail |
| Southside Center | James Block | 850 689-7211 | Send E-Mail |
| Walker Elementary | Nichole Ragusa | 850 689-7220 | Send E-Mail |
| Wright Elementary | Alyssa Blanton | 850 833-3580 | Send E-Mail |
For school information, visit https://www.okaloosaschools.com/
