Pete Schierloh
Retired Boone County Sheriff's Deputy Pete Schierloh is the newest addition to the Owen County Sheriff's Office and will serve as school resource officer (SRO) beginning Nov. 11.
Owen County Sheriff Mark Bess made the announcement last week, noting Schierloh's 30-plus year career in law enforcement.
"I'm very excited to welcome Pete on board and for the opportunity to have a school resource officer within our district," Bess said. "I have every confidence in Pete as he is a seasoned officer and has experience working with youth."
Schierloh began his law enforcement career in 1988 with the Boone County Police Department. The department merged with the Boone County Sheriff's Office in 2001, where Schierloh retired as a sergeant in 2008. He currently serves as a detective for the Dayton, Kentucky Police Department and formerly served as a substitute teacher in Northern Kentucky.
Schierloh and his wife, Owen County native Sheila True, have two grown children, Kelli Schierloh and Connor Schierloh. The couple plan to relocate to Owen County in the coming weeks.
"Owen County Schools welcome Pete and the opportunity to improve upon our safety measures," said Owen County School Superintendent Dr. Robert Stafford. "He brings experience with both law enforcement and working with youth that will be invaluable to our community."
As Owen County SRO, Schierloh will travel between the district's four schools to assist school administration in maintaining a safe and secure environment by handling situations such as possible weapons violations, identifying controlled substances, and providing a visible presence to deter or identify trespassers on campus.
In addition to his day-to-day duties, Schierloh will serve as an active member of the Owen County Drug Prevention Coalition and other local initiatives that aim to prevent, deter, and treat substance abuse.
"The opportunity to be in the school environment is very enticing," Schierloh said. "I enjoyed my time as a substitute teacher, so the chance to go back and be around the kids is exciting."
While Schierloh will serve as an employee of the Owen County Sheriff's Office, the school district will provide the SRO salary. The county will provide all equipment, including uniforms, firearms, radios, and vehicles necessary, per a year-to-year contract between the district and the county.
“The members of the Owen County Fiscal Court and I are pleased to welcome Pete, and to be able to provide resources to support the school district in its quest to provide a safe environment for our children," said Owen County Judge/Executive Casey Ellis. "We applaud the board of education and district staff for their efforts in ensuring the safety and prosperity of all students and stand behind them 100%."