Alachua County Sheriff Deputies to be in 12 elementary schools starting Jan. 3

GAINESVILLE – Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, in an effort to enhance safety, has committed to placing Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies in 12 elementary schools in Alachua County. An agreement has been presented to the School Board of Alachua County that would place a deputy in each of the elementary schools listed below beginning with the return from the Christmas break on Jan. 3. Sheriff’s Office administration will be working with the School Board of Alachua County to determine additional coverage possibilities. This is a temporary measure as the joint work group meets to look into making schools safer. The unknown cost of this enhancement will be absorbed into the Sheriff’s current budget. No funding mechanism is in place to continue this long term by either the Sheriff or the School Board.

The presence of School Resource Deputies (SRD) in schools has become an important part of the duty to protect children on campus. The Sheriff’s Office currently has 16 deputies assigned to 14 schools in Alachua County. The presence of the SRD’s also provides a deterrent to those targeting young children around schools and an expedited law enforcement response to school violence or weapons.

The following additional schools will be staffed by a uniformed deputy beginning Jan. 3, 2013:

Alachua Elementary, Archer Elementary, Chiles Elementary, Hidden Oak Elementary, Idylwild Elementary, Irby Elementary, Lake Forrest Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary, Newberry Elementary, Shell Elementary, Waldo Elementary and Wiles Elementary.

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