Two distinguished School Resource Officers (SROs) have been honored in a ceremony that felt both festive and solemn as they were inducted into the SRO Hall of Fame. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office shared the news on social media, recognizing the contributions of retired SRO Lt. Bill West and the late SRO Scott Reed in a special event hosted during the annual Christmas Breakfast at World Outreach Church.
Capt. Barry Hendrixson highlighted West's pioneering role as one of the first five SROs in Rutherford County Schools and in Tennessee back in 1993, his tenure as president of the National Association of School Resource Officers, and his continued commitment to school safety as the safety liaison for Cannon County Schools. “'Scott was probably one of the best SROs,' because of the relationships he built with the students and staff, West said, as stated by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. He loved the students, which demonstrates just how influential Reed was in his time, coaching the archery program at the elementary schools—an inspiration that West admired as he took on similar coaching duties at Brown’s Chapel Elementary School.
The duo now holds a place of honor within the SRO Hall of Fame, which resides in the SRO office, serving as a reminder of their service and dedication. The ceremony wasn't just about looking back; it was woven with the present joy of the season, as Santa Claus himself surprised the assembly, handing out Christmas gifts to the children of SROs in attendance. The organizers of the breakfast and World Outreach Church were thanked for their involvement, as per the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.
