Bedford County Sheriff's Office
D.A.R.E. & School Resource Officer Unit

NEW!  Early Warning, Timely Response -- A Guide to Safe Schools

A critically important facet of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office is our D.A.R.E. & School Resource Officer Unit.  These deputies frequent every school... from elementary through high school... throughout our beautiful county and reach out to our youngsters in a friendly, personable manner.  When our youngsters get to know our law enforcement officers on a first-name basis, learn of their professionalism and approachability, and learn about the pitfalls of drugs and other snares that might entangle them, we are helping to prepare tomorrow's leaders who will become responsible, law-abiding taxpaying and voting citizens.  Our school kids grow to love our deputies, and the feeling is mutual.  These dedicated deputies also enhance the safety of Bedford County Schools on a daily basis.  The BCSO is proud of and remains steadfast in its commitment to the youth of Bedford County.

Expansion of the School Resource Officer program has continued since 1996, placing a BCSO deputy in each high school and increasing our presence in all middle and elementary schools county-wide.  Additionally, Operation Blue Ridge Thunder's Safe Surfin' Program was presented in every school in the County in calendar 1999, with plans to be in every school in the Commonwealth by the end of the 2000-01 school year.  We share your concerns about School Safety and remain committed to keeping every school in the county safe.  Sheriff Mike Brown has helped to support and make available a comprehensive and important federal document relating to safety in our schools, which is must-reading for every parent, teacher, and student of age: