CENTRE – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has been recognized on the national stage for excellence in school-based policing, earning the prestigious 2026 Model School Resource Officer (SRO) Agency Award from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).
The honor recognizes law enforcement agencies across the country that exemplify NASRO’s nationally recognized “Triad Model,” which emphasizes the role of School Resource Officers as law enforcement officers, public safety educators, and informal counselors dedicated to building positive relationships with students while maintaining safe learning environments.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was one of only 11 law enforcement agencies nationwide selected to receive the 2026 Model Agency Award. It also joins the Vestavia Hills Police Department as one of only two Alabama agencies recognized this year.
https://www.cherokeecountyalsheriff.com/
According to NASRO, the Model Agency Award is presented to agencies that demonstrate exceptional training, policies, standards, and innovative approaches to school-based policing. Agencies undergo a rigorous evaluation process that examines every aspect of their SRO program, including officer selection, specialized training, operational policies, and partnerships with local school systems.
To qualify for the award, agencies must demonstrate that School Resource Officers are carefully selected, specifically trained, and properly equipped to serve in educational settings.
Among the requirements are selecting experienced officers with exemplary disciplinary records and a proven commitment to working with youth. Agencies must also ensure officers receive specialized training in adolescent development, mental health awareness, crisis response, and de-escalation techniques.
In addition, departments must maintain formal agreements with school districts that clearly define the role of School Resource Officers, emphasizing student safety while prohibiting officers from becoming involved in routine school discipline matters. Agencies are also expected to participate in multidisciplinary threat assessment teams and maintain effective school safety reporting systems.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for demonstrating these high professional standards while embracing the NASRO philosophy of building positive relationships with students through education, mentorship, and proactive law enforcement.
NASRO officials said the award recognizes agencies that provide professional service to their school communities while implementing creative and innovative school policing programs that reflect the organization’s nationally accepted best practices.
The 2026 NASRO Model SRO Agency Award recipients are:
- Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama
- Frederick Police Department, Colorado
- Elk City Police Department, Oklahoma
- Vestavia Hills Police Department, Alabama
- Everett Police Department, Washington
- Hamilton Township Police Department, Ohio
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois
- Olathe Police Department, Kansas
- Peters Township Police Department, Pennsylvania
- Pigeon Forge Police Department, Tennessee
- Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana
The national recognition places the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office among an elite group of agencies recognized for excellence in protecting schools, mentoring students, educating young people, and building positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
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