LAWRENCE COUNTY — Shawswick Elementary School will soon have a dedicated law enforcement presence on campus following an agreement announced during Tuesday’s Lawrence County Commissioners meeting.
Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day informed commissioners that former Assistant Chief Joe DeWees has been selected to serve as the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for the elementary school. To formalize the placement, Sheriff Day presented the board with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lawrence County and the North Lawrence Community Schools (NLCS) district.
DeWees retired after more than 38 years of service to the City of Bedford.
Sheriff Day emphasized that enhancing school safety remains one of his administration’s highest priorities—particularly for facilities located farther from primary emergency response hubs like Shawswick Elementary.
Because of Shawswick’s geographic distance relative to other schools in the district, placing a full-time, dedicated officer on-site significantly reduces potential emergency response times and provides a continuous security presence for students and staff.
Fully Funded Partnership
Under the terms of the MOU, the partnership comes at no cost to Lawrence County taxpayers.
North Lawrence Community Schools will fully cover Dewees’s position, including all associated salary, benefits, necessary equipment, and state-mandated SRO training. Sheriff Day will officially swear Dewees in as a special deputy to grant him the authority required to execute his duties on school grounds.
