FLEMINGSBURG — A new School Resource Officer position at Fleming County High School will be filled beginning Aug. 8.
In a partnership between the Fleming County School District and the Flemingsburg Police Department, Officer Tim Smith was recently hired as the new SRO at the high school for the coming school year. According to Police Chief Brian Bowling, this arrangement to employ an SRO at the high school has been a year in the making.
Before the police department took over, school officers were provided by the Fleming County Sheriff. After the previous officer retired, the school board came to Bowling to discuss terms for employing the police department.
The job of SRO, Bowling said, is more of a political and public affairs job that might not fit some police officers. Bowling has taken on a search to find an officer who would best fit the job requirements.
According to Bowling, about three months ago, the school district allowed the police department to begin searching for someone who was suitable to take the position. More than 25 individuals applied for the position, Bowling said, though many of them weren’t trained in law enforcement.
Bowling said the interviewing process involved members of the city and school district in selecting a candidate. Mayor Marty Voiers and Bowling posed the first round of interviewing, while Superintendent Brian Creasman and FCHS Principal Stephanie Emmons conducted a secondary interview.
Smith, having served previously on the Flemingsburg Police Department, Fleming County Sheriff’s Department and most recently the Maysville Police Department, along with being a Fleming County resident, was a logical choice.
“He is already a member of the community, been working as an officer for 10 years and is a coach for the (Simons) middle school soccer team,” Bowling said. “So he already has experience with the kids.”
Emmons also said his experience with law enforcement is tempered with knowledge of the Fleming County school system, having also been a member of the Hillsboro Elementary School’s Site Based Decision Making Council and president of its Parent Teacher Organization.
“I think that Tim will be a great candidate as a School Resource Officer,” Emmons said.
Smith turned in his resignation from the Maysville Police Department last Wednesday at the Maysville City Commission meeting. Though Smith was unable to comment, Bowling said Smith is glad to come back to serving his community.
