The Boone County Sheriff's Department and two county schools, Valley Springs School District and Bergman School District have partnered together to provide law enforcement protection and representation to students, staff and administration on school grounds.

This partnership is part of Sheriff Hickman's county-wide community policing strategy. This partnership has provided an officer in an area where well over 1500 Boone County citizens are concentrated on any given day during the school year. 

Sergeant Dennis Lea is the School Resource Officer at Valley Springs School District. His duties include school security, response to and investigation of reported crime, teaching of prevention classes and presentation of crime prevention and law enforcement related programs. Sgt. Lea enjoys a wonderful relationship with the students and staff at the Valley Springs Schools.

Deputy Chris Burnett is the School Resource Officer assigned to Bergman School District.  His duties and responsibilities are the same as Sgt. Lea's.  Deputy Burnett also teaches a 6th grade safety and drug prevention program that was implemented by the Bergman School Administration and is supported by the community.  The 6th grade classes chose their own slogan and program; they call it "To Thine Own Self Be True".

To further the Sheriff's Department community policing strategy, Valley Springs, Bergman, Lead Hill, Alpena and Omaha school districts have received grant funds applied for by the Sheriff's department through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Secure Our Schools program in 2007.  This grant provided one half the cost of much needed security equipment for the schools such as surveillance systems, cameras and radios.

Sheriff Hickman and the Sheriff’s Department hope to further enhance their community policing strategy with future employment of school resource officers at other county schools.