Walker County To Be Recognized With award For Enhancing Student safety

Violence prevention & student advocacy nonprofit, The One In Five Foundation For Kids, dedicated to ending school violence & formed in response to the May 2022 Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas; released Wednesday evening that it is currently launching its special volunteer STOPNOW school community patrol teams who will be patrolling district/school community neighborhoods, in addition to an increased law enforcement presence as students return to school this 2024/2025 school year. The foundation noted in the release that it is actively seeking community members to join its patrols.
 
Foundation STOPNOW Patrols, modeled after the "Guardian Angels," anti crime unit in NYC in the 1980's, patrol school perimeters to minimize & prevent safety incidents from reaching school campuses; while also providing extra encouragement and support for students and neighborhoods. The nonprofit noted in the release that the school patrols are part of an aggressive nationwide grassroots effort to prevent violence from coming onto & disrupting school campuses and endangering student lives; while also serving as an added level of security presence and student support in the immediate off campus neighborhoods.
 
Patrols are currently ongoing at several school neighborhoods throughout the nation; including Morgan State University, Garfield Heights High School, College Station High School, Michigan State University & Choctaw High School.
 
Team volunteers undergo foundational training, are cleared through background checks & are trained in situational awareness and basic intervention techniques... Patrol members are unarmed, must be drug/alcohol free and do not enter school or district property without clearance as part of a collaborative on campus program. Volunteer Regional Team directors & volunteers are actively also being sought. Potential patrol members are encouraged to contact the foundation to begin the team entrance process.
 
The foundation announced that it is currently in communication with Walker County School District Superintendent, Dr Dennis Willingham, as well as Walker County Sheriff, Nick Smith to discuss the potential for the volunteer patrol teams to join on campus student safety efforts in addition to off campus patrols. Currently, patrols are slated for off campus and district properties, patrolling several blocks surrounding several Walker County Schools including Oakman Middle School & High School.
 
Wednesday's release also noted that the national group will recognize Walker County SRO, Officer Jay Miller, Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith & District Superintendent with a national award recognizing their individual and collaborative ongoing efforts to provide enhanced safety and well being for students and general school community. A formal presentation ceremony is tentatively slated for September with more details to be announced.