Unicoi County unveils new vehicles for school resource officers

Four new police vehicles for school resource officers were unveiled Thursday at Unicoi County High School as part of a statewide school safety grant program. The vehicles will be assigned to deputies serving Temple Hill Elementary, Unicoi County High School, Love Chapel Elementary and Unicoi Elementary schools, according to a press release from the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department. Officials said the trucks are the newest additions to the department's fleet and were purchased entirely through grant funding. The vehicles have been purchased through grant awards received through the State of Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, according to the release. The cost of the four vehicles was approximately $210,000. The release notes it would be the equivalent of a .055 cent tax increase if it had been purchased by the county. Funding under the grant requires the money to be spent on SRO salaries, benefits, training and equipment, according to the release. The grant contract also requires the Sheriff's Office to enter into a memorandum of understanding that ensures that the SRO is a sworn and certified officer and requires 40 hours of specialized training within the first year. After that, SROs must receive 24 hours of POST training and 16 hours of SRO specific training annually, according to the release. This funding is made possible through Public Chapter 0530 (HB 1409, SB1431) for the statewide program. Under this program, the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department is able to secure $300,000.00 in annual funding for schools, according to the release. "I appreciate the support of the legislature for their commitment to allocating funding for these programs," Chief Deputy Frank Rogers said in the release. "The commitment and support of our State Representative Renea Jones is invaluable. "Through programs like this, the Sheriff's Office and the school system are able to enhance our effectiveness and security of the schools," he said. "I appreciate the relationship we have with Director John English — his love for the students and staff are evident in his work. "Through our unified efforts, I am confident that the schools are safer. We will continue to pursue grants and aggressively train for the event that we pray never happens, and put our children first in all that we do." Captain Chris Boings said in an interview that two of the vehicles were received in 2025, with the remaining two delivered this year. "We like to do this for community awareness," Rogers said in an interview. "It's a sense of pride for the community and something most people can see the value for." Rogers said the Sheriff's Office has used grant funding in recent years to obtain additional equipment, including a drug enforcement vehicle with advanced technology, a mental health transport vehicle and a drone with thermal capabilities. "We are constantly exploring grant opportunities," Rogers said. "If you don't have a vigorous approach, it will pass you by — it is an endeavor in itself." Rogers said deputies maintain regular communication with school officials and participate in regional conferences and meetings to share ideas and best practices. "Not a day goes by that we're not in contact with the schools," he said. "We also pick up ideas from the shared conferences and meetings we attend. We look at what other areas are doing and see what needs to be applied." Drew Rice, head football coach at Unicoi County High School, said the presence of school resource officers has become an integral part of daily operations at the school. "We have a great working relationship," Rice said. "We keep up a daily interaction and it's something we're certainly grateful for." Rogers said the new vehicles will give officers reliable transportation and added flexibility in their roles. "The new vehicles will provide reliable transportation to the officers and allow them to transport individuals as needed," he said. "SROs are all certified deputies, so it also gives them the ability to do their jobs outside of schools. A visible vehicle on campus also serves as a deterrent for potential crime."