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BURGAW, NC - The Pender County Sheriff's Office announced Monday, January 9, 2023 the Town of Burgaw and Pender County have partnered to provide School Resource Officers in Pender County Schools.

Beginning January 9, the Burgaw Police Department will provide a full-time SRO for C.F. Pope Elementary. In February the SRO position at Burgaw Middle School will transition to a Burgaw officer.

Below is the full news release from the Pender County Sheriff's Office

The Town of Burgaw and Pender County have partnered together to increase the
presence of School Resource Officers (SRO) in Pender County Schools. Effective
Monday, January 9, 2023, C.F. Pope Elementary School will have a full-time Burgaw
Police Officer assigned to its campus. In February, the PCSO middle school SRO position
will also transition to a Burgaw officer.

The Burgaw Police Department will provide the two SROs on a full-time basis for C.F.
Pope Elementary and Burgaw Middle School for the remainder of the school year and
into the coming years. The PCSO SRO, currently assigned to Burgaw Middle School, will
be reassigned after the transition period is complete.

Since August, the town and county have worked together, along with Pender County
Schools, to increase the law enforcement presence in the schools. By sharing the cost
of two SROs within the Burgaw Town limits, the schools are more adequately covered.
Pender County Schools was awarded a grant from the Office of the Center for Safer
Schools through NCDPI, which will assist with the allocations of safety equipment,
salaries, critical incident response training for SROs and teachers, and other important
resources.