By Nathan Howell / Staff Writer

 

ALABASTER — School Resource Officers from across and outside of Shelby County were invited to Thompson High School Feb. 19 for the “We Love our SROs” dinner organized by Youth Leadership Shelby County.

Noah Tanner, a member of Youth Leadership, kicked off the event by discussing the important work of SROs.

“The work they do goes unnoticed, so we wanted to show them appreciation,” said Tanner.

Aside from providing a meal to the officers, the event was also an opportunity for SROs to share their perspectives on the importance of their jobs. The guest speakers were deputy David Morrow, SRO from Oak Mountain High School, and officer Pam Revels, a member of National Association of School Resource Officers and The Alabama Association of School Resource Officers.

Morrow highlighted the need for SROs by detailing his experience when a gunman took five girls hostage in 2013 at Chelsea Middle School.

“It’s something you never expect,” said Morrow. “By using my training, we talked him into releasing the girls within 15 minutes.”

Revels wanted to keep her speech short and concise and chose to present a toast to the other SROs in the room.

“Here’s to you the peacemakers, brothers and sisters, the thin band of blue and gold protecting communities. SROs stand guard on doors and hallways watching over vulnerable students like sheepdogs,” she said.

The idea for the dinner was conceived by Abby Grace Walker, from Youth Leadership Shelby County, who said “I thought about what would happen if my SRO didn’t show up, and how they watch over us and get no recognition. That’s how I came up with the idea to do something for them.”