Kentucky Center for School Safety officials visited Hardin County this morning to award Hardin County Schools and three law enforcement agencies with its School Resource Officer Promising Program Award. KCSS Executive Director John Akers presented the award to officials from the Elizabethtown Police Department, the Radcliff Police Department and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.

\“You’re not just cops in the schools,” Akers said. “You’re highly trained. The partnership between Hardin County Schools and its law enforcement agencies is a role model for the rest of the state. I’m thrilled to present all of you with the KCSS Promising Programs Award.”

“You are always there for us,” HCS Director of Student Services Kim Adkins told a group of gathered police officers. “You work so very well together to help our students, their families, our school staff and our community. We are extremely grateful for you all and all of you are deserving to receive this award.”

“The rest of the country is chasing us,” State School Safety Marshall Ben Wilcox said. “States are passing laws that require a lot less training than Kentucky does. Our school resource officers put in 120 hours of training to ensure our students are safe. You are the tip of the spear if someone wants to put your students in harm’s way. But you are also a mentor, a counselor, a teacher and more. That is what makes you so special.”

“Our school resource officers are amazing,” HCS Superintendent Teresa Morgan said. “They create and nurture life-changing relationships with students and they stand ready to sacrifice everything to protect our students and staff. I’m so thankful for all of our first responders.”