school resource officers Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

House passes bill allowing private schools to hire school resource officers

The bill passed the House unanimously and will now go to the governor's desk.

March 3, 2025

Senate passes bill to allow retired law enforcement officers to work as school security

The Alabama Senate approved a bill Thursday by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, that would allow local school boards of education to hire retired law enforcement officers to serve as armed school security staff, provided they possess 25 years of experience. The officers must complete active shooter prevention training approved by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency … Continued

April 19, 2019

Committee approves bill to allow retired law enforcement to work as school resource officers

The Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved a bill Wednesday to allow retired law enforcement officers to be hired as school security guards and school resources officers. House Bill 209 is sponsored by state Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen. Pettus is a retired state trooper. Pettus said the bill would allow a sheriff … Continued

April 15, 2019

Department of Education makes budget request

Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey addressed the budget committees Tuesday for both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate. Mackey appeared to be asking for more funds for almost every area. “There is nothing more important that we can do beyond getting the best prepared five year old that we can,” Mackey said of … Continued

January 30, 2019

Jeff Sessions addresses law enforcement symposium in Hoover

Monday, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) was in Hoover to address a Department of Justice National Public Safety Partnership Symposium. Sessions told the members of law enforcement gathered there, “We have your back and you have ours.” U.S. Attorney Jay Town, Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale (R-Jefferson County), Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall … Continued

September 25, 2018

State Senate candidate Johnny Mack Morrow calls for a State Lottery

Wednesday, State Senate candidate and current state Representative Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, is calling for the state legislature to pass legislation that would allow the people of Alabama to vote on a state lottery. Morrow said that if he is elected to the state Senate he will personally sponsor a lottery bill in the … Continued

September 6, 2018

Ivey executive order puts more guns in schools

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the implementation of the Alabama Sentry Program, which provides for an additional security measure in schools that do not have a School Resource Officer. The Ivey administration said in a statement that the Alabama Sentry Program is a voluntary program that will permit administrators in schools, without an SRO, to maintain … Continued

May 31, 2018

Bill to qualify more retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers passes House

The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill allowing retired law enforcement officers to serve as school resource officers without having to attend the police academy again. House Bill 236 is sponsored by state Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen. Pettus, a retired law enforcement officer himself, said that his bill would allow a retired … Continued

March 15, 2018

House makes effort reach bipartisan plan on school security, gun safety

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Thursday, there was an effort among Alabama legislators to craft a bipartisan piece of legislation to deal with school security and the potential of school shootings. Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, had a meeting in the speaker’s conference room with all of the various … Continued

March 9, 2018