Wood County Sheriff’s Department to Assign First School Resource Officer to Auburndale School District

Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

(Sirena Mankins, Editor of the Hub City Times) The Wood County Sheriff’s Department will assign its first school resource officer to the Auburndale School District when classes resume, following approval by the county’s Public Safety Committee this week.

According to Sirena Mankins, Editor of the Hub City Times, Sheriff Sean Becker said the sworn law enforcement position addresses a long-standing need in the district, which relies entirely on the sheriff’s department for police coverage.

“This is something that they’ve wanted for quite a while, and I agree with it,” Becker said during a recent County Connections newscast. “We spend as much time as we can out there during our shifts when school is in session, but having somebody there for that complete school year is important.”

The position will be funded through a combination of sources Becker says will minimize the impact on county taxpayers. The Auburndale School District has committed to covering part of the deputy’s salary, while the sheriff’s department has applied for a federal COPS grant that could provide additional funding.

“With the commitment from the Auburndale School District, along with hopefully getting this COPS grant, the county shouldn’t have to pay that much money out of the budget for this upcoming position,” Becker said.

Both the district’s financial commitment and the potential grant run for three years, creating what Becker called a “great way to test something” the department has done with other grant positions.

The sheriff’s department is currently conducting an internal selection process to choose which deputy will fill the role. Becker said many department members have expressed interest in the position.

During the school year, the resource officer will be stationed full-time at district buildings and will assist with special events. In summer months, the deputy will support patrol operations and investigations when not needed at the school.

Chief Deputy Quentin Ellis submitted the grant application several months ago. Grant award notifications are expected by the end of August, with the position set to begin when school starts.

Currently, sheriff’s deputies prioritize being present during school arrival and dismissal times, but other calls for service sometimes prevent that coverage. “If we have calls of service going on, sometimes we can’t be there, but it’s a priority,” Becker said.

“If we’re not busy on the road, our deputies are going to be there.” Auburndale School District is located entirely within Wood County boundaries, making the sheriff’s department the primary law enforcement agency for the area.

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