PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (July 7, 2011)—The Calvert County Board of Education and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office today announced the addition of two sheriff’s deputies to work in the county’s public high schools. These deputies will join the two existing deputies, the State Police liaison officer, the school safety advocates, and the school system’s community resources and safety specialist to expand services to students and families.
“School safety is one of our top priorities,” said Superintendent Jack Smith. “This past winter a group of citizens stated in a community forum that they value safe and orderly schools because safe educational environments support student achievement. The expansion of our school safety teams supports this community priority.”
Each high school will now have a full-time deputy in addition to two safety advocates.
“The new deputies will be a valuable addition to the already strong team of school- and central office-based personnel who work to ensure our schools are safe for students and staff,”
said Smith.
The school system and the Sheriff’s Office jointly selected DFC Jason Lord and DFC Kevin Hall as the two new liaison officers who will join Cpl. Glenn Libby and DFC Vaughn Johnson.
Sheriff Mike Evans sees the liaison officers primarily as proactive forces to prevent problems from developing. He said that the deputies serve as role models and work to develop positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.
The liaison officers and safety advocates promote awareness of traffic and criminal laws, are resources to school officials when working with students and parents on problems in the school or community, and inform school administrators of ongoing or potential issues. While in the schools, the officers work in plain clothes and work under the direction of school administrators.
The school system created the position of safety advocates in school year 1996-97. These school employees are often retired law enforcement officers.
In addition to the school-based safety personnel, the school system has a State Police liaison officer, Sgt. Bruce Bevard, and a Community Resources and School Safety Specialist, Larry Titus, who work throughout the school system on safety issues.