Shortly after 7:00 a.m. this morning, a deputy with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department who is assigned as the school resource officer at McLaurin Schools was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic, the department said in a social media post.
The department said the deputy’s condition is serious but stable and that he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, the department said.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for law enforcement and public safety across Rankin County, Mississippi, and assigns school resource officers to work at local schools to manage campus safety, provide security and assist with traffic during arrival and dismissal times. School resource officers often perform a mix of law enforcement and student-support duties and play a visible role in daily school operations.
The deputy being struck while performing traffic-control duties highlights concerns about pedestrian and officer safety around schools during busy morning periods. The department 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.
