Codington County Sheriff Highlights School Resource Officer’s Impact in Watertown-Area Rural Schools
- Steve Jurrens
- 54 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Coinciding with the first day of the new school year in Watertown and surrounding rural communities, Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell presented the annual School Resource Officer (SRO) report to county commissioners, highlighting the profound impact the program has had on local youth.
During the Tuesday, August 25, 2026, meeting, Sheriff Howell detailed the SRO’s activities covering the July-to-July fiscal year for the 2025–2026 school term. The report painted a picture of an officer embedded in the daily lives, safety, and well-being of students across the county’s three rural schools.
By the Numbers: A Year in the Schools
The SRO logged 1,482.5 hours during their shifts within the county’s schools, averaging roughly 500 hours dedicated to each of the three rural campuses.
During the 2025–2026 school year, the SRO responded to:
· 1 Property crime
· 50 Personal crimes
· 6 Conflict resolutions
· 123 Community programs
· 1,027 School assists
What Does a ‘School Assist’ Look Like?
The number of “school assists” caught the Sheriff’s attention, prompting him to ask for a breakdown of exactly what those interactions entail. What he learned showcased a dynamic, hands-on approach to community policing that goes far beyond simply walking the halls.
“He gave me a whole list of different things that he’s kind of been working on... I learned that he’s obviously doing a lot more than what I even kind of was thinking initially,” Sheriff Howell shared with the commission.
Among the many “school assists,” the SRO actively:
· Made art projects with classes.
· Filled in to teach classes for an hour (such as math) when teachers were unavailable.
· Secured a donation of a couple dozen bicycles from the state penitentiary to add a new curriculum to a rural school’s physical education program.
· Assembled and distributed approximately 100 hygiene kits—including toothbrushes and shampoo—funded by community sponsors for children in need.
· Facilitated the donation and maintenance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) for schools that lacked them.
Community Collaboration and Campus Safety
Beyond student interactions, the SRO played a critical role in administration and facility safety.
The officer worked directly with camera and door vendors on repairs and campus safety improvements while collaborating with school administrators on updated safety policies. Additionally, the SRO taught staff and administration during in-service days, educating them on law enforcement trends and local scams while facilitating a two-way flow of information regarding student needs.
The SRO also expanded their reach by partnering with the Watertown Healthy Youth program and the Human Service Agency to bring youth programming out to the rural schools. Further collaboration with the State’s Attorney focused on the youth diversion program and best practices for juvenile issues.
Sheriff Howell concluded his report by expressing his appreciation for the officer’s dedication.
“I’m kind of proud of our school resource officer,” Howell stated. “They oftentimes don’t get as much credit as they deserve being out there with our youth.”
