Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers today named Marion County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Jimmy Long the 2018 School Resource Officer of the Year. Corporal Long is being recognized for his quick thinking and heroic action in responding to a school shooting on April 20, 2018.
“Corporal Long is the true definition of a hero. After hearing a gunshot on the campus of Forest High School, Corporal Long did not hesitate to protect the lives of innocent high schoolers,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Corporal Long’s actions undoubtingly saved many lives and I am thankful for his courage. May his quick and selfless response be a testament to the bravery required of a school resource officer. Thank you, Corporal Long.”
Attorney General Bondi and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers present the School Resource Officer of the Year Award annually to a Florida officer who demonstrates dedication and tireless work ethic to enhance the lives of the students they serve.
In 1985, the Attorney General’s Office developed the first 40-hour basic training course adopted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to train school resource officers with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to implement crime prevention programming in a school setting. Together, the Attorney General’s Office, the FASRO, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Education jointly provided a number of trainings throughout the years to develop effective prevention programs and strategies for students and campuses. Each year, applications for the School Resource Officer of the Year are submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for review.
