At the end of next week, Tom Whitford, a Daviess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Deputy and current Safety Resource Officer (SRO) at Daviess County High School (DCHS), will be working his last day at the school in the position he has held for eight years. And the students at DCHS will begin a new era with Dep. Paul Mattingly taking the reins as the new SRO.
It’s all starting to set in for Whitford as his retirement day is quickly approaching, and he finds himself becoming more emotional about his last day.
“I have been in law enforcement for 33 years,” Whitford said. “I will miss the kids and staff the most.”
He said the greatest successes he’s had as SRO are watching kids graduate “who have had a hiccup,” and watching others while celebrating the fact he “did not have to call the parents to say they had committed suicide.”
Whitford is a people person, he said. He has coached several sports and has always had a fondness for children. DCHS was not his first SRO job as he had been a supervisor SRO in Broward County in Florida. But this job, working with kids every day, has impacted Whitford.
“The kids, the Sheriff’s Department — they have all been great to me,” Whitford said. “I see [the kids] out in town and they say, ‘Hey.’ It’s a great feeling.”
Whitford’s commitment to DCHS students is not lost on him.
“Sometimes, [I] become a counselor, mother or father figure,” Whitford said.
Students at DCHS know that Whitford cares about them by his visibility in the school halls, the lunchroom, classrooms and after-school functions. Some students ask for hugs, others wave and even some ask for quarters to get a “pop” to drink, Whitford said.
Junior Jewel Shemwell has been on Whitford’s radar since before she arrived as a freshman at DCHS. Shemwell’s mother “grew up” with Whitford and her older brother attended DCHS and was familiar with Whitford.
“I am a fighter, and I had a bad start,” Shemwell said.
Shemwell said that over the past two and a half years, Whitford has done a lot for her and her family and always checks in with them.
Everyday he says good morning, according to Shemwell, and he has helped her be where she needs to be.
“He sees both sides of the story, and he always wants me to look on the brighter side,” Shemwell said.
Teaching life lessons has been important to both Shemwell and Whitford.
“I let [the students] know I am human. I am a husband, father and grandfather,” Whitford said. “I can’t stand to see someone wanting and not be able to help.”
And this is what Shemwell will miss the most about her “best friend,” she said through tears.
“He encourages me and wants me to be five times better,” Shemwell said. “He doesn’t give up on me. [He is] bold, brave, generous and outrageous. I know I have to stay on track.”
Assistant Principal Lance Blue, who works closely with Whitford and often jokes with him about his stature, said that Whitford will do anything that is asked of him.
Blue said there could be a fight with 300 kids on each side and that Whitford would walk right into the middle of it. And the kids would listen because he is personable with students but still professional, according to Blue.
Blue has worked with other SROs and said that Whitford was the most visible he had known, often venturing into classrooms while class is happening.
“The kids and teachers love him,” Blue said. “The Lord got it right with him. He might be vertically challenged, but it’s because his heart is so big.”
Keeley Greenlee, a sophomore at DCHS, recently learned what a great support Whitford is for students. Experiencing some personal issues, Whitford was the first person she thought to go to.
“I was nervous [to talk to him], but it was about my question, not him,” said Greenlee. “I will miss waving at him and making jokes.”
Junior Bree Owen said she will miss seeing him in the hallways.
“He is so caring and outgoing — someone you can talk to,” Owen said. “You can just go to him — he isn’t like other adults.”
For the last month, Whitford has been training Dep. Paul Mattingly, the new DCHS SRO. Mattingly has advanced training for the SRO position but not the basic training that can only be learned while on site.
“This training bridges the gap with him between the DCSO, DCHS, and the [DCPS] Board of Education,” Whitford said.
Mattingly has been surprised by how busy the job at DCHS has been.
“Every day it is like drinking from a fire hose,” Mattingly said.
Mattingly is aware of the differences coming into this job, specifically the difference in interactions with high school kids versus on the road. He keeps “getting his feet wet,” and feels he is doing something productive.
Mattingly is also enjoying his new schedule, since most days he is able to be home by 4 p.m. He has spent 17 years working second and night shifts, so it is nice for his family to see more of him and eat dinner with him.
“Tom has made a huge impact in eight years,” Mattingly said. “I want to thank him for making my transition easy to slide in to.”
Whitford will also miss the administration team at DCHS.
“It’s the best [school] administration I’ve ever worked with,” Whitford said. “The DCSO, Keith Cain, the school…they all know what the expectations are. There is a harmony.”
As for Mattingly, who will be solo after the weekend, Whitford leaves a few tidbits of wisdom from his SRO experience.
“Stay open-minded,” Whitford said. “Treat everyone fairly, be consistent, and know the expectations from the Sheriff’s Department and school board.”
