Marla Ballard, Reporter
Bamabell62@gmail.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala.-- School Resource Officers (SROs) are assigned to every school in DeKalb County. Law Enforcement Officer, Lieutenant, Tony Bartley has served as an SRO and currently holds the position of DeKalb County SRO Supervisor. One of the aspects of the job for an SRO is to teach fifth graders the D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).
Officer Bartley taught Special Education in the Cherokee County school system until beginning his career in law enforcement at the DeKalb County Sherriff’s Office in 1992 as Jailer, then Chief Jail Administrator, then as a Deputy Sherriff, as Liaison for DeKalb Sherriff’s Office and DeKalb schools. With his experience and support from Judge Ronnie Osborn, Sherriff Cecil Reed, and Mary Etta Bailey, the SRO program was established in 1995. Bartley went to Jacksonville State University and keeps these certificates up to date; MS Certification, Special Education, MS in Physical Education, BS in Physical Education. Also, certified to teach Criminal Justice class.
Deputy, Wesley Greeson was one of the fifth graders who took the D.A.R.E. class that Officer Bartley taught. Now all these years later, Greeson is following in Bartley’s steps serving as an SRO and teaching D.A.R.E. to fifth graders. Greeson said as a fifth grader becoming an officer was not his plan. “What I liked about D.A.R.E. class was having an officer come to our classroom and spend time with us,” said Greeson.
It left an impression on him. “I was in my 20s before I decided to become an officer,” said Greeson. “I got my four-year degree at Athens State University where I took Criminal Justice.” In 2010 Greeson was hired as a patrol officer. From 2011-2016 he served on the Special Response Team, 2016-2017 SRO at Ider High School, 2017-2018 SRO at Fyffe High School, 2018-2022 Investigator at the Sherriff’s Office, 2022-present SRO at Geraldine High School.
“The curriculum for D.A.R.E. class has changed three times since it began,” said Lieutenant, Bartley. “It isn’t just about children saying no to drugs, it’s about teaching them to make good decisions in all areas of their lives, whether it’s doing their homework or cleaning their room.”
“There is more student involvement instead of lecturing,” said Greeson. “It’s about teaching them to think their way through a problem or task.” Greeson said he has had more than one student mention they are considering law enforcement in their future career plans.
Greeson said it’s about future prevention and forming relationships with students. “At the school we get to spend enough time with the students to make a connection with them versus a 911 call where we spend only ten minutes to two hours trying to help someone,” said Greeson.
Officer Bartley said there are many hands who helped get the SRO and D.A.R.E. programs off the ground. “Acknowledgement and thanks should be given to; Mary Etta Bailey, Gelene Nelson, Donna Taheri, Judge Ronnie Osborne, Retired Sherriff Cecil Reed, and Rainsville Technology School Director, Jonathan Phillips, where the first SRO position was instituted and the Criminal Justice class is now taught,” said Bartley.
