School Safety: A Top Priority
The Cherokee County
School District Police
Department has earned
state recognition for its
excellence, with plans to
further enhance safety and
security this school year.
The department last fall
earned the renewal of its
status as a Certified Agency,
first achieved in 2006
and awarded by the Joint
Review Committee of the
State of Georgia Law
Enforcement Certification
Program.
This is the highest level
of State accreditation that
local law enforcement
agencies can earn, and it is
rare for school police
departments to complete
the required rigorous
review. The Certification
Program provides a comprehensive
blueprint for
effective and professional
law enforcement, and
recertification is required
every three years to maintain
this accreditation.
CCSD’s Department,
which is led by Chief Buster
Cushing, is one of only five
school police departments
in the State to hold this
certification.
“This recognition
honors the dedication of
every member of our
department and our shared
commitment to professional
excellence,” Chief Cushing
said. “I am grateful for
all that they do every day to
serve our schools and
greater community in a
fair, professional and
respectful manner. It is an
honor to lead our department
and serve alongside
38 CLASS ACT | 2022-2023
them.”
CCSD’s police officers
all are Georgia Peace
Officer Standards and
Training (POST) Council
certified and additionally
have been deputized by the
Cherokee County Sheriff.
These officers not only
protect and serve the
students, staff and visitors
at CCSD schools and
special events, but the
department also oversees
CCSD’s safety and emergency
response planning,
employee and volunteer
background checks, and
administrative and criminal
investigations, among
its many roles.
Established 22 years
ago, the department consists
of 21 police officers
certified by the Georgia
POST Council, an emergency
management facilitator,
emergency communications
facilitator, terminal
agency coordinator and
office staff. The police
officers have been deputized
by Cherokee County
Sheriff Frank Reynolds to
enhance their authority and
ability to serve and protect
their community.
The department’s many
responsibilities include
assigning certified police
officers to each School
Innovation Zone; providing
proactive safety planning
and training for schoolbased
staff; providing
parent/community safety
education programs;
facilitating background
checks on employees and
volunteers; and conducting
criminal and administrative
investigations.
A key focus for Chief
Cushing since taking office
in 2019 has been an emphasis
on community
partnerships. During his
tenure, CCSD has undertaken
numerous
multi-agency training
opportunities with other
local law enforcement
agencies and public safety
departments including
tabletop drills, Code Red
drills and evacuation and
reunification drills. During
summer break, officers
from law enforcement and
public safety agencies
joined the CCSD School
Police in a Code Red active
shooter drill.
CCSD School Police
Officers are supported in
their work by the significant
investment made by
the School Board into
improving the safety and
security of facilities. Recent
initiatives have included
the installation of
additional security foyers in
schools; the addition of
camera and buzz-in systems
to all school main
entrances; the increase in
the number of interior and
exterior security cameras;
the installation, which
continues to be phased into
schools, of emergency alert
systems for immediate
reporting by school staff of
emergencies to police and
schoolwide emergency
communication; and the
implementation of the
Vector Alert system, which
greatly expanded the ability
for students, parents, staff
CCSD Police Chief Buster Cushing greets students at Hickory Flat
Elementary School.