Loudoun County Boards Reject Expansion of School Resource Officers to Elementary Schools

Sheriff Mike Chapman’s plan called for placing SROs in elementary schools, with each officer covering three to four schools. Data from the sheriff indicated that in the past three years, SROs stationed at middle and high schools were redirected over 5,000 times to handle incidents at elementaries. Funding had been proposed in the FY27 budget. Board members expressed concerns that the decision was rushed and required more data review, focusing on program effectiveness rather than outright safety risks.

Following the school board’s stance, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors—chaired by Phyllis Randall, vice-chaired by Michael Turner, and including Juli Briskman—approved removing the SRO funding from the budget. Supervisor Briskman cited the school board’s opposition as a key factor. Proponents, including parents who spoke at meetings, highlighted community support via emails and PTAs, arguing for equal protection across all grade levels.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office encouraged public input, noting frequent law enforcement interactions at elementaries despite no dedicated SROs. Videos shared by local groups captured parents urging approval, with one emphasizing the funded status and parent backing. Opponents on the boards pointed to existing security measures and questions about necessity based on incident data.

This development follows years of discussion on SROs since 2019. While middle and high schools have full coverage, elementaries rely on responses. Community reaction has been mixed, with calls to restore funding amid national concerns over school shootings. Supervisors face pressure as budget finalization proceeds.

Email the Loudoun County School Board:
April Chandler, april.chandler@lcps.org,
Anne Donohue, anne.donohue@lcps.org,
Deana Griffiths, deana.griffiths@lcps.org,
Ross Svenson, ross.stevenson@lcps.org,
Kari LaBell, kari.labell@lcps.org,
Jon Pepper, jonathon.pepper@lcps.org,
Lauren Shernoff, lauren.shernoff@lcps.org,
Sumera Rashid, sumera.rashid@lcps.org,
Amy Riccardi, amy.riccardi@lcps.org,

Email the Board of Supervisors at:
Phyllis J. Randall (Chair, At-Large) – Phyllis.Randall@loudoun.gov,
Michael R. Turner (Vice Chair, Ashburn District) – Mike.Turner@loudoun.gov,
Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian District) – Juli.Briskman@loudoun.gov,
Sylvia R. Glass (Broad Run District) – Sylvia.Glass@loudoun.gov,
Caleb Kershner (Catoctin District) – caleb.kershner@loudoun.gov,
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles District) – Matt.Letourneau@loudoun.gov,
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg District) – Kristen.Umstattd@loudoun.gov,
Laura A. TeKrony (Little River District) – Laura.TeKrony@loudoun.gov,
Koran Saines (Sterling District) – Koran.Saines@loudoun.gov