TN: Nash Co SROs complete autism training
- The end of childhood
- Aug 24, 2025
- 2 min read
Aug 12, 2025, The Enterprise: Nash County SROs complete autism awareness training
Nash County school resource officers completed specialized autism awareness training, enhancing their ability to support and communicate with students on the spectrum. The training is now required annually.
NASHVILLE — School resource officers with the Nash County Sheriff’s Office were recognized Thursday for completing autism awareness training.
Each deputy who completed the program — piloted for the National Autism Society and conducted in partnership with Trillium Health, Cross River Therapy and Nash Autism Seeking Hope — received a commemorative pin during a ceremony in the department’s CID conference room.
“SROs are a specialized and diverse group of individuals that are guardians, protectors,” said Nash SRO Supervisor Kevin Bissette. “They’re also teachers and coaches, and at any given time, can be responsible for up to 1,000 students in one location ... and so with that, we have to ensure that they have the proper training, the proper technology to make sure that they can adequately do their job.”
NEW PROTOCOL
Seeking to expand crisis intervention training for their officers, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone and Bissette tasked the team with a more comprehensive cycle of learning — one that went beyond online courses to include hands-on time in the field with members of Cross River.
“I want to first thank this SRO team,” Stone said. “If you’ve noticed, in the last several weeks, they went from SRO training — that they do annually — to tactical training that is about at the level of a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) operator ... they’re guarding the most precious item in any community — it’s our kids.”
To that end, the training focused on those living with autism, a neurological and developmental disorder that impacts interaction with others, communication and learning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
“Being able to take care of those children that go to school, that are wanting to learn, and better understand each of these kids, it takes training — which Nash County takes very seriously,” Stone said. “But it also takes community support, as we have today with Cross River Therapy and other people that are wanting to see each one of our kids succeed.” . . .
“We have some autistic kids at Southern Nash, in special needs programs, and this training has enlightened me on how to communicate with those students,” said Sherrod, a Nash law enforcement officer of 22 years and the SRO at Southern for the past decade. “Since Sheriff Stone’s taken over, we’ve come a long ways in our training, and it’s assisted me in knowing that I can hold the line until help arrives.”
The training will be now required annually of deputies who serve the department, in alignment with other youth, teen and adult mental health initiatives.
Comments