Resource officers go back to school a few weeks early

Resource officers go back to school a few weeks early (Added: August 04, 2009)

The South Carolina Association of School Resource Officers conference is being held this week at Premier Resorts at Barefoot Resort and officials want the public to know officers will be training at N (more)

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Resource officers go back to school a few weeks early

More than two dozen school resource officers from around South Carolina take part in hands-on training inside North Myrtle Beach High School on Tuesday morning.

By: Rusty Ray | SCNOW
Published: August 04, 2009

School is still out for a few more weeks, but the halls of North Myrtle Beach High School were full of activity on Tuesday morning.
More than two dozen school resource officers, representing law enforcement agencies from across the state, were at the school to engage in ALERRT--or Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training--to get ready for the upcoming school year.
"We're trying to get together and learn things together, that way when the school season starts, we'll be able to work together when things happen," said Lt. Mark McColman of the Richland County Sheriffs Office.
The officers are attending this week's South Carolina Association of School Resource Officers conference at Barefoot Resort.
McColman said any type of SRO gathering--whether it's hands-on training, seminars, or open discussions, can yield only positinve results in the fight to keep schools safe.
"People have great ideas," he said. "We'll bring those ideas in and let them yank the front page off and put their name on it."
Officers are more than just armed guards inside schools, though, he said.
"Our number one goal is to make sure we show the kids we put our pants on just like they do, and we're somebody then can come and talk to," McColman said. "If there's a problem, it doesn't matter if it's in their school or in their neighborhood, they know they've got someone to come and talk to," he said.
The training inside North Myrtle Beach High School continues on Wednesday morning. Parents and students who are also using the school for registration should not be alarmed if they see the officers or their vehicles on school grounds.