A deputy assigned as the school resource officer at McLaurin School in Rankin County was struck by a vehicle Tuesday morning while directing traffic, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office said.
The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. The deputy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and officials described the condition as serious but stable, the sheriff’s office said. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
School resource officers are sworn law enforcement members assigned to provide security, build relationships with students and help manage traffic and safety during school arrival and dismissal. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and oversees SRO assignments at local schools, officials say.
The incident underscores the risks officers face while performing routine duties at busy school zones and may prompt reviews of traffic-control procedures around schools. The sheriff’s office asked the public to keep the deputy, his family and his colleagues in their thoughts and prayers. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
