news-record.com

I’m a retired deputy sheriff who worked as a school resource officer for 12 years at Northwest and Northeast high schools.

After serving Guilford County for 26 years and almost losing my life on the job, I can’t for the life of me see what all the trouble is with the proper equipment being given to school resource officers so they can carry out their duties.

The school board should take a few minutes to look at an incident at Carolina Forest High School in Conway, S.C., on Oct. 18. An officer was stabbed eight times by an 11th-grade student. The officer had no choice than to use his weapon to stop the attack; the student was killed. It’s sad but true.

Had that officer had a Taser, he may have been able to use it rather than his weapon and both the student and officer would still be here today.

Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes and Greensboro police Chief Tim Bellamy are protecting the lives of both students and officers.

Walter Grey Richardson
Conway, S.C.