Cumberland Co. Sheriff's Office will stop providing school resource officers and crossing guards to several schools

WRAL News learned Wednesday that the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office will no longer provide school resource officers (SROs) to several public schools in the county.

According to a letter sent to the Hope Mills Police Department by Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright, the sheriff's office will no longer assign crossing guards or deputies as SROs to schools in the city limits and several others county schools.

The sheriff's office said it will assign deputies only to schools located in unincorporated areas of Cumberland County.

The sheriff's office said the change would take effect July 1.

According to Cumberland County Schools, the district will be responsible for providing 34 SROs and 98 crossing guards in the county.

The Hope Mills Police Department said several Cumberland County towns, including Hope Mills and Spring Lake, will have to take responsibility for schools in their jurisdiction.

“This step was necessary because the Sheriff's Office is understaffed and has had to eliminate some assignments in order to have enough deputies to respond to calls for service,” Police Chief Stephen Dollinger said in a letter to to the City Manager of Hope Mills.

Dollinger said that while he understands why the sheriff's office had to make this decision, it will cause more pressure on officers.

“This inevitably places responsibility on our department to respond to calls for service, provide security and arrange for the safe passage of students,” he said.

Dollinger said school administrations, students, staff and parents have become accustomed to SROs and crossing guards assigned to their schools by the sheriff's office and their removal would cause public outcry.

Additionally, Dollinger said the decision would create several other problems, including:

Wright said he will hold a meeting with other police agencies on Thursday, June 6 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office to discuss the decision.

Dollinger and Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden are expected to attend, along with Cumberland County Schools leaders.