Get to Know Your SRO: Meet Carters Valley Elementary SRO Adam Lawson

Editor’s Note: This is part four of a new Review feature called “Get to Know Your SRO” with a goal of introducing the community to a new school resource officer every Wednesday.

Meet Carters Valley Elementary SRO Adam Lawson:

What is your name and which school do you work at?

Adam Lawson, Carters Valley Elementary School

How many years have you been involved in law enforcement?

13 years

What made you decide to become a police officer?

I wanted the opportunity to be able to help people and it was a well-respected career field.

Where did you grow up?

Kingsport, TN

Where did you go to school, and when did you graduate?

Sullivan Central High School — Class of 2001. Walters State (Police Academy) — 2010. Northeast State: Associate of Science (CJ) — 2011. Bethel University: BSCJ — 2016. MSCJ — 2020

What were your favorite subjects in school?

PE and lunch

What’s the biggest difference in school life between now and when you were a student?

When I was in school the internet did not exist and was still considered to be new when I graduated. There were no cell phones and social media did not exist. You had to talk to people and learn to be sociable.

What do you see as the biggest challenges faced by students today?

I believe that students today face challenges dealing with learning responsibilities. Most of their work is done on computers, and they don’t have the responsibility to keep up with books for each subject.

Did you play sports and/or participate in any school extracurricular activities?

I played football and baseball growing up.

Was there a teacher or teachers who had the biggest influence on you? Who were they and how did they influence/inspire you?

Coach Musser helped inspire me towards law enforcement because he had been a deputy prior to becoming a teacher and allowed the criminal justice classes to understand more about the job.

What are the biggest challenges you face as an SRO?

The transition from being a patrol officer to an SRO and adapting to the unique needs of students and learning the best way to handle each type of incident. Another challenge is teaching students that law enforcement are their friends, and they shouldn’t believe everything they see from the media.

What are the greatest rewards/joys of being an SRO?

Being able to help a student in need or to help them understand something they have questions about.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Red Lobster

If you were on death row, what would be your final meal?

8oz sirloin with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and broccoli.

What kind of cake do you like for your birthday?

White cake with whipped icing

What are your favorite sports teams?

Tennessee Vols

What do you like to watch on TV (favorite shows)?

Sports, the Chicago shows, and Shark Tank is mostly what’s on my TV at home.

What are your hobbies?

Play guitar and web design.

What’s a perfect vacation for you?

Going on a cruise or a week at the beach.

What’s the best thing about being an SRO?

The schedule allows me to spend more time with my family.