Lee County School Resource Officers earn prestigious designation

Three School Resource Officers from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recently earned the prestigious NASRO Practitioner designation from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

Deputy Richard Brogdon achieved his NASRO Practitioner designation on July 28, 2026, and received his official certificate and commendation in August. Deputies AJ Hussey and Ridge Zimmerman achieved their NASRO Practitioner designations on August 23, 2026, and received their official certificates and commendations in September. All three deputies received a uniform pin, certificate, and letter of commendation from NASRO.

This designation recognizes School Resource Officers who demonstrate consistent dedication to maintaining professional ethics and school safety. To earn the designation, officers must serve as a School Resource Officer for a minimum of three years, complete both the basic and advanced NASRO SRO courses, complete a minimum of 160 hours of specialized in-service training related to school safety, attend the NASRO School Safety Conference, and complete the formal application process.

The deputies were able to complete the NASRO Advanced Course portion of the requirement through a registration grant at the Alabama Association of School Resource Officers’ annual training conference over the summer. This allowed them to complete the final requirement for the designation.

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones emphasized the importance of training for School Resource Officers, adding, “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to our overall mission of providing for the safety and protection of the citizens we serve. We believe the safety of the youth of our county and our schools is a primary obligation in that mission. We have dedicated our efforts to ensure that our Deputy Sheriffs who are serving in the role of School Resource Officer are among the best trained and qualified professionals in our state and nation. The level of accomplishment and certification achieved by these Deputy Sheriffs is a shining example of that effort.”

Deputies Brogdon, Hussey, and Zimmerman will be recognized at NASRO’s 2027 National School Safety Conference.