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North Augusta SROs Complete Summer Training Ahead of School Year

North Augusta School Resource Officers honing their skills for the upcoming school year.

News Summary

As students prepare to return to school, School Resource Officers (SROs) in North Augusta finalize their summer training focused on safety protocols. This year’s training emphasized first aid, active shooter response, and fostering communication among students, parents, and faculty. The proactive measures come in light of a recent investigation into a former officer. Community vigilance is also highlighted as road traffic increases with the new school year approaching.

North Augusta, S.C. – School Resource Officers (SROs) in North Augusta are gearing up for the new academic year after completing extensive summer training. The diligent preparation comes as students prepare to return to the classroom amidst rising temperatures, with the local forecast predicting sunny to partly cloudy conditions and highs reaching 97°F on July 19, 2025.

The summer training, which obtains insight from an annual SRO conference held in June across South Carolina, focuses on new trends, educational strategies, and essential updates in training protocols. Key components of the training include vital skills such as first aid and active shooter response, aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students, teachers, and staff.

Overseeing North Augusta’s SRO division is Sgt. Melanie Chavous, who emphasizes the importance of fostering trust and effective communication among students, parents, and faculty. This proactive approach aims to create a welcoming environment where children feel comfortable sharing personal concerns, which can ultimately lead to improved safety and better crisis response.

Parents are advised to engage in meaningful conversations with their children before and after school to help develop a trusting relationship. Establishing authority over the home environment is crucial, as parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s belongings for safety concerns. With the increase in road traffic anticipated due to the influx of students, North Augusta Public Safety stresses the importance of community vigilance to ensure a safe back-to-school transition.

This proactive atmosphere comes in light of recent challenges, as an investigation into a former North Augusta High School resource officer, Christopher Ryan Wilson, has raised alarms in the community. Wilson, 23, was charged on February 2, 2023, with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after accusations involving an inappropriate relationship with a student surfaced. This investigation was initiated following reports from three juvenile female students in December 2022, who disclosed that Wilson allegedly supplied alcohol and tobacco vape products to a student.

After being placed on suspension, Wilson resigned three days later. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) conducted a year-long investigation into the allegations, with the Second Circuit Solicitor’s Office now tasked with the prosecution. The offense of contributing to the delinquency of a minor constitutes a Class A misdemeanor in South Carolina, which could lead to fines or jail time for the former officer.

The community remains on alert as the school year approaches, underscoring the vital role that School Resource Officers play in maintaining a safe educational environment. By prioritizing relationships and promoting open lines of communication between students, parents, and faculty, SROs aim to foster a positive school climate where safety and security are paramount.

As the summer training wraps up and the school year draws near, the commitment of North Augusta’s School Resource Officers to protect and serve the local education community is evident, ensuring that they are well-prepared to address the challenges ahead.