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2023 School Resource Officer of the Year - Officer Dennis Barton

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The Columbia County School District named the inaugural School Resource Officer of the Year, Officer Dennis Barton. Officer Barton is the school resource office (SRO) for Stevens Creek Elementary School and was chosen by the school district administration. Principals sent letters of recommendation detailing safety programs and student engagement that officers were involved in for their schools. Out of 40 officers, Officer Barton was picked as number one.

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[Off camera announcer] Would Officer Barton please report to the cafeteria, please? Officer Barton!  [Cheering and clapping] Well, c'mon! This is the very first SRO (School Resource Officer) recognition in the district. This is something we're hoping to do every year. Just get that morale up a little bit more. Maybe, you know, just kind of, "We love you you working here! We really do love you working here." And I want to show you that you're recognized by the people who care for you here, everybody, not just your school, but the administration and us, all of us together. I mean I just love doing my job.  I can't believe I'd be recognized of 40 officers. This feels pretty good. I try to make it fun for the kids: high fives, giving dab every day, go out to recess, go to lunch, eat with them. Just try to be their friend and show them that law enforcement can be a positive role model, not always bad. He's really nice.  And he always brings a smile on my face. When I accidentally hit the ground with my backpack he said, "Stop!  You're hurting my children!" Raise your hand if you love Officer Barton's cheesy jokes. He obviously keeps our school safe. All the officers do a great job of that in our schools. Kids will risk breaking the hallway rule of talking if they see Officer Barton, "Hey Officer Barton!" [Cheering] He is just a positive role model. He is just engaged with these children. And I'm not saying he's the only one.  The SROs engage so much with children, so it not so much being a police officer, it's almost like being a mentor. The kids love him, and his image is one of caring; not just a business keeping us safe but really caring about the kids. I think this is awesome. I love doing this job.

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2023 School Resource Officer of the Year - Officer Dennis Barton

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