July 13, 2021 – In the interest of public safety and transparency, Santa Rosa County District Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber and Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson have issued the following joint statement:
From the Santa Rosa County School Superintendent:
The Santa Rosa County District Schools and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office continue to research the guardian program. Both agencies have determined that the sheriff’s office has been and continues to be capable of ensuring safety in Santa Rosa County schools. School resource officers additionally provide many much-needed services to students beyond the abatement of active shooter incidents, from fostering positive relationships, preventing student injuries and property damage, reducing the likelihood that a school will need to call 911, and serving as a deterrent to drug use, gang activity, theft and vandalism.
From the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office:
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office currently has one sworn deputy sheriff in every district school in Santa Rosa County. Santa Rosa County schools are safe. The sheriff’s office will continue to provide the same high level of service to the children and parents of Santa Rosa County.
