As of last Monday, November 16, the Clinton County school district, primarily Clinton County High School, now has added security with the placement of an SRO officer based at that facility.

Russell Decker, a retired Kentucky State Police officer with 20 years of service, is now officially back in the peace officer profession, only with a different title and a somewhat different scenario.

Decker, who has also made a career with the military, serving in the U.S. Air Force active duty for 10 years and as a reservist for 12 years, brings plenty of experience and knowledge to the job.

Decker told the Clinton County News last week that he had gone through the application process when the job opening became available and prior to beginning the job, took a 40 hour SRO training course in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

“Providing security within the schools, monitoring the facility and trying to make a more secure atmosphere for students and staff,” is what Decker described as being his primary duties and goals. “The kids have been very respectful and the staff has been very kind and welcoming,” he said.

Although based at CCHS, the new SRO, during an emergency and upon instruction from Albany Police Chief Ernest Guffey, would be allowed to act in his capacity at any of the other schools in the district, under the grant agreement between the City of Albany and the school district.

Decker noted that although his title is School Resource Officer, he is also a duly sworn member of the Albany Police Department, an employee of the city, which obtained the renewable grant to have an SRO placed in the school system.

Currently, Decker has no immediate plans for offering safety education to the students, staff, or public as a whole, but did note that part of the SRO training dealt with offering safety measure classes and how to prepare lesson plans. He expects to do some educational type programs in the future.

Decker said the primary difference between being a member of the KSP and the SRO was it was a slower pace. “But I have time to slow down and get to understand children and obstacles that they may face that weren’t there when I was growing up,” he added.

Decker called the first few days in his new job as somewhat uneventful, meaning no major incidents occurring, adding he had spent most of his time meeting people and getting to know the students.

“I’m happy to be doing something different and new. I really think I’m going to like it,” he said.

The School Resource Officer placement came to be after Albany Mayor Nicky Smith, the police department and city council opted to apply for a grant to fund an SRO who will also be a police officer while not working directly in the school setting.

CCHS Principal Stacy Evans said, “with safety being a top priority at this point, we are privileged to have someone here full-time.” She added the presence of the SRO could prevent or deter a lot of things from happening, as well as bridging communications between students and law enforcement.”

Superintendent Charlotte Bernard said she appreciated the additional officer at the high school. “It adds to the safety of all our students at the high school,” she said.

Bernard also thanked the mayor, police department, city and the Lake Cumberland Area Development District (LCADD), the latter which helped write the grant application, for its work in securing a School Resource Officer at the high school and district as a whole.