The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is reaffirming its commitment to the School Resource Officer Program in response to last week's Florida high school shooting.  Sheriff Robert Langley says they continue to work with the County Executive and the Legislators to maintain the position of the Sheriff’s Office. 

He says the resource officers are an instrumental asset to the community and provide a direct connection between the children and staff in Putnam County schools and law enforcement.  Langley reminded parents, staff and other adults to not dismiss what children and others are saying, no matter how insignificant it may seem. 

The School Resource Officer program has been in Putnam County schools since 1996. 

The county and the individual school districts share the cost of respective officer. The Brewster School District has three officers; one the district is completely financially responsible for. 

Carmel School Superintendent Andy Irving is a proponent of the program.  He says there is no single development in school safety and security that has had a greater impact than the SRO program, with benefits that go beyond school security.  The uniformed certified law enforcement officer, assigned full time to a school, works as an educator, law enforcer and counselor.