OC Sheriff’s Office SRO recognized with Award

Last week, School Resource Officers (SRO) from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office were recognized with the 2017 South Carolina Exemplary School Resource Officers Program Award. The nomination for the award was made by Evie Hughes, Director of Student Services, Safety and Security for the School District of Oconee County and was given out at the National Summit of Schools, Communities and Law Enforcement by the Moving Forward Together National Summit Planning Team. The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission made the selection through a vetting process and the Sheriff’s Office SRO program was one of only two programs statewide to be recognized. In the recommendation letter sent to nominate the School Resource Officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Mrs. Hughes said the Sheriff’s Office Leadership Camp was “an exemplary program.” The Leadership Camp, which is conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and the School District of Oconee County, has been held each year since 2015 for young men in the 5-8th grade who are selected by the Resource Officers, administrators and guidance counselors. The recent camp that concluded June 9, had 35 participants. The students in the Leadership Camp participate in team building and leadership activities as well as visiting different places around Oconee County to learn more about where they live. The SROs and volunteers who participated also have opportunities to work with the students in small groups to build a rapport with the students to talk about life issues. On hand to accept the award last week in Columbia, along with Mrs. Hughes, was Lt. Mark Lyles, who supervises the SROs for the Sheriff’s Office. Pictured from left to right are Bart Teal, President of Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Evie Hughes from the School District of Oconee County, Lt. Mark Lyles of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, and Joyce Dickerson, Chairperson of the Richland County Council.