BY KARISSA MILLER

In the wake of the recent school shooting in Tennessee, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell expressed confidence Monday in the work that has been done to protect school staff and students across the county.

During Monday’s Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, the sheriff said the ICSO has numerous safety processes in place to identify potential threats.

“I have three (children) in the system,” Campbell said. “That shows you the faith that I’ve got, and it’s a testament to what we’re doing.”

The sheriff created the ICSO’s first threat assessment investigator position in 2018. At the time, only one other sheriff’s office in North Carolina had such a position, he said.

Campbell introduced Detective Heather Little, the ICSO’s first threat assessment investigator, and Detective Shawn Rowe, who was hired for the same role in January.

While primarily responsible for identifying possible threats in schools, Little and Rowe also use their training and experience to take a proactive approach by training schools, churches and others how to respond to an active shooter.

When a potential threat is discovered from a student or other individual, Little begins an investigation, interviews witnesses and suspects and takes the appropriate enforcement action.

The sheriff said keeping school staff and students safe requires vigilance.

“With our threat assessment positions — it’s not an 8 to 5 (job). It’s 24-7. I don’t think either one of these knew what they were getting into when they started, but I can tell you every weekend there is a threat,” Campbell said.

Schools staffed by ICSO resource officers are way ahead of other school systems when it comes to school safety protocols and having a secure campus, the sheriff said.

“One of the biggest things we use to build relationships with kids is our app,” he added.

The mobile app allows users to submit anonymous tips directly to the ICSO.

There is far more security in place in schools staffed by ICSO resource officers than people realize, Campbell said, adding that there are regular improvements and additions to the security of district schools.

For example, there are ballistic shields in every school to protect or shield staff from an active shooter. The schools also have surveillance equipment, including security systems, and other facility enhancements to help protect staff and students.

The ICSO has a school resource officer in every traditional public elementary, middle and high school, excluding those in the city limits. Those schools are staffed by SROs from municipal departments.

All SROs are armed and trained to recognize and respond to danger. They also work to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the school community and act as mentors to kids in need.

Other deputies also visit the schools in their coverage area on a routine basis. This fosters a sense of security for students and staff, the sheriff said. There were more than 83,000 of these visits last year, Campbell said.

The ICSO also has a youth mobile education classroom, which is used to educate students on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, gangs, bullying and Internet safety.

Superintendent Jeff James said the districts hopes to increase the number of K9 units working in schools. Their presence is a deterrent to drug use, he said.