Capt. Tony Barrett (T-G Photo by Doug Dezotell) [Click to enlarge]

There were only six road deputies when Tony Barrett started working with the Bedford County Sheriff's Department in 1978. Barrett, then 24, and the other five deputies, along with the sheriff and a warrant officer, made up the complete force.

"When I was 28 years old I was made chief deputy, and I imagine I was the youngest chief deputy around," Barrett said. "The actual business office was in the courthouse back then, and then we used the sheriff's house for our office. We used the old rock house until about 1988."

Four sheriff's administrations and 30 years later, there are 106 employees and 26 road deputies, and Barrett is still on the force. Today he is a captain who supervises Bedford County's School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

The SRO program was started at the beginning of the 2000 school year under a federal grant that provided funding for three years. This was part of the Sheriff's Department's focus on community-oriented policing.

The first year, SROs were assigned to Harris Middle School and Shelbyville Central High School. In 2001, Community High School and Cascade High School also had SROs assigned to them. Barrett was the first SRO assigned to Cascade.

An SRO fills many different roles within the school they're assigned. They serve as an important part of the school's administrative team, helping to solve problems that may arise. They serve as an educational resource for students, teachers, administrators, and parents; and they provide students with a positive role model, and a good perspective on law enforcement. Many times the SRO serves as a counselor for students, parents, and faculty as well.

Today there are two SROs at SCHS, two at HMS and one each at Liberty School, Cascade High School and Community High School. Two deputies alternate days at the Bedford County Learning Academy (formerly known as the alternative school). The SROs at Cascade and Community also are available if needed at the elementary schools next door.

"As the county schools program grows, then the SRO program needs to grow," Barrett said. "When they build the new Community High School they're going to need another SRO."

The men and women who serve as SROs in the county schools are: Deputy Cory Ewing (SCHS); Deputy Kim Brown (SCHS); Deputy Eric Henson (HMS); Deputy Tim Fox (Cascade); Deputy Tracey Harvey (Community); Deputy Bob Filer (Liberty); and Deputy Kevin Roddy and Deputy Mike Henry (Learning Center).

"We'll be getting a drug dog, trained in Rutherford County and donated to the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, that will be used for the schools," Barrett said. "The dog is a yellow lab named Roxy, and she'll be assigned to SCHS full time."

Barrett served for six years as an investigator for the District Attorney's office. The 17th Judicial District includes Bedford, Lincoln, Marshall, and Moore counties. One day during his tenure at the DA's office, Barrett walked through the BCSD's back door and was asked by the chief deputy to become the SRO at Cascade. He left the DA's office and returned to the Sheriff's Department in 2001.

"It's been great working in the schools and with the students," Barrett said, "And I've got a great group of SROs that I work with."

Barrett also serves as a County Commissioner for the Seventh District, serving in his first term.

"I took Eugene Ray's seat when he became the county mayor," Barrett said. "I think I'm the first deputy to have served on the County Commission."

Barrett's wife, Melissa, is a freshman algebra teacher at SCHS, and his son Ben is a sophomore English teacher at SCHS. His daughter, Julie Cataldo, has three children and lives here in the area as well. Barrett serves as a deacon at Fair Haven Baptist Church.

"I enjoy my job, and I'm glad to be involved in the community," Barrett said.