What began as a normal school day, quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.

A student, armed with a shotgun and pistol, took 40 students and teachers hostage at a high school. After a struggle for control of the firearms with a teacher and shots fired, six students were held hostage in a standoff that lasted hours.

This did not take place in some distant community in another state. This happened in 1990 at South Forsyth High School.

I was one of the many responders to the call. And it changed my perspective about the power a law enforcement officer can have in our public schools forever.

This standoff with a rogue student is why, as Sheriff, I will make it a top priority to place a Resource Officer in every one of our 36 public schools. It is not enough to place them in our high schools and middle schools.

We have all seen senseless tragedies in schools across our nation regardless of the age of the students. And while it may appear to be rare and random acts of violence, there is no reason we should not be prepared to protect every child in Forsyth County.

Quite frankly, it is time to stop picking and choosing which students we protect. And as Sheriff I will do it.

This is not to say that a Resource Officer will step into all matters of student discipline, however. We must allow hardworking teachers and administrators to continue taking the lead on running their schools as they see fit.

Rather, a Resource Officer in every school will serve as a deterrent for the most senseless crimes. And they will be there to help combat the rising use of drugs in our schools.

There has been a lot of debate on this issue recently. Some say it would cost too much and deliver too little.

Well, as someone who was on the ground during a life-threatening situation at a Forsyth school that ended without tragedy, I know the positive impact law enforcement can have.

And as for the costs, surely protecting our kids is a greater priority than having 11 staff members of the Sheriff’s Department focused on public relations or spending $370,000 on seven luxury vehicles. Surely there is no better use for drug seizure money than protecting our kids from violence or drugs.