Building Trust, Promoting Safety: Meet the SPD’s School Resource Officers

The Statesville Police Department is excited to kick off a new series: Meet Our SROs!

What exactly is an SRO? A 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 (SRO) is a specially trained 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 who works inside our schools to build relationships, promote safety, and serve as a positive role model for students. They aren’t just there to enforce the rules - they are mentors, educators, and trusted allies for students and staff alike.

To kick off this series in a fun way, our SROs imagined themselves as superheroes - because in many ways, that’s how they are seen in the school community.

This month, we’ll be introducing you to our amazing SROs, sharing who they are, why they love their role, and how they help make our schools a safe and welcoming place for learning.

You won’t want to miss getting to know the real-life heroes in our schools!

Sergeant Amy Dyson – Statesville High School (Supervisor)

Meet Sergeant Amy Dyson, the newly promoted SRO Sergeant at Statesville High School!

Beginning September 1, 2025, Sgt. Dyson will officially step into this leadership role, bringing decades of experience and a deep commitment to students.

Sgt. Dyson began her law enforcement career in 1993 as a Telecommunicator and became a sworn officer in 1994 after completing Basic Law Enforcement Training.

A few fun facts about Sgt. Dyson:

• This summer, she enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas and spending time with her dogs and family.
• Her favorite subject in school was English.
• A favorite story she carries with her is The Starfish Story - a reminder that even small efforts can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Her goal in this new role is to get to know as many students as possible, serve as a mentor, and make a positive difference. In her own words, “If I can make a difference to just one student, I will have achieved my goal.”

We are proud to have Sgt. Dyson leading our SRO team and continuing her service to the students and families of Statesville!

Officer Scott Long – East Elementary School

Officer Scott Long has been in law enforcement for five years and is now beginning his fifth school year as a School Resource Officer.

He believes being an SRO is one of the best jobs in law enforcement because it gives him the chance to make a positive impact on young people. Every day, he has the opportunity to build relationships with students, support them, and be a resource they can trust.

His hope is that everyone will feel comfortable stopping by to talk with him - whether it’s about school, life, or just to say hello. Above all, he wants to help create a safe and welcoming environment for the entire school community.

Officer Shannon Finis – Northview Academy

Officer Shannon Finis has served in law enforcement for 12 years and is now beginning her second year as a School Resource Officer at Northview Academy.

She shares that the best part of being an SRO is the opportunity to form lasting and positive relationships with Statesville youth. She also speaks highly of the school itself, noting that the administration and staff create such a positive culture that it makes her job easier and more rewarding.

Outside of work, Officer Finis enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, and tending to her new garden. While she didn’t particularly enjoy school until attending college, she discovered a passion for psychology - especially learning about the brain and how it works.

Her advice to her younger self would be: “Not getting what you want in the moment might really suck, but it may also be a blessing or an opportunity for something greater.”

Officer Finis also has an interest in true crime, whether in the form of podcasts, books, shows, or movies. Looking ahead to this school year, her goal is to work with students at Northview Academy to develop strong leadership and character skills that they can carry back to their home schools, families, and community. Her hope is to make a meaningful impact so that these students won’t find themselves back at Northview.

Corporal Attrie Killian – Northview Academy

Meet Corporal Attrie Killian, the School Resource Officer at Northview Academy!

Corporal Killian has served in law enforcement for 16 years, with the last 5 years dedicated to working as an SRO. For her, the best part of the job is providing a safe environment for students and staff while also being seen as a mentor and trusted adult - not just an enforcer.

This summer, she enjoyed some well-deserved family time at the beach. Back in her school days, her favorite class was PE, especially when it involved kickball, dodgeball, or just about any sport or game.

Here are a few fun facts about Corporal Killian:

• Favorite TV shows: Survivor, Big Brother, and The Challenge
• Advice to his younger self: “Pay attention in school and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
• Goal for this school year: To be a listening ear for students.

We’re proud to have Corporal Killian serving at Northview Academy, where she continues to make a positive impact every day!

Officer Hunter Bell & K-9 Joko – N.B. Mills Elementary School

Officer Hunter Bell has been in law enforcement for about five years, with four of those years spent serving as a School Resource Officer.

He is joined at N.B. Mills Elementary School by his K-9 partner, Joko. Together, they not only help ensure safety on campus but also bring smiles and comfort to students and staff. As Officer Bell says, “Joko usually gets the first smile and wave, while I get the second.”

If he could give advice to his younger self, it would be to not worry so much about fitting in: “Be yourself, work hard, and be kind. The right friends and opportunities will come your way.”

When it comes to downtime, Officer Bell enjoys watching Pokémon. Looking ahead to this school year, his goal is to ensure that every student knows they can come to him—whether it’s for safety concerns, advice, or simply to stop and say hello to Joko. Building trust, he says, is his number one priority.

Officer Dakota Brannon – Oakwood Middle School

Officer Dakota Brannon is beginning his fourth year as a School Resource Officer, all of them spent at Oakwood Middle School.

For him, the best part of being an SRO is making students feel happy, safe, and like they belong at school. Building those relationships and creating a welcoming environment is what makes the job so meaningful.

Over the summer, Officer Brannon enjoyed spending time with friends and family. In his own school days, his favorite subjects were History and Science. If he could give advice to his younger self, it would be simple but important: “Study more, haha!”

These days, he’s currently reading The Witcher series, though he admits he isn’t watching much television right now. Looking ahead to the school year, his goal is to memorize as many new names as possible while continuing to build strong connections with the Oakwood Middle School community.

Officer Dustin Bryant – Statesville Christian School

We’re excited to introduce Officer Dustin Bryant, the School Resource Officer at Statesville Christian School!

Officer Bryant has been with law enforcement for about 4 years, and this is his very first year serving as an SRO. His favorite part of the role so far? Meeting new teachers and students and building trust between schools and law enforcement.

Outside of school, Officer Bryant enjoys family time - especially watching his oldest son race dirt bikes. In school, his favorite classes were History and PE, and these days you’ll usually catch him watching football when he has the chance.

Officer Wadrina Ealy – Statesville High School

Officer Wadrina Ealy has been in law enforcement for just over a year, and this marks her first year serving as a School Resource Officer.

For her, the best part of being an SRO is the opportunity to connect with students and make a positive impact beyond traditional law enforcement. She values being someone students can talk to, rely on, and view as a role model.

This past summer, Officer Ealy worked with kids during summer camp, which gave her the chance to connect with them in a fun and positive environment. She also completed her certification as a School Resource Officer - a rewarding milestone in her career.

Back in school, her favorite class was Parenting and Child Education. She remembers enjoying lessons on child development and parenting skills, though the weekend assignment of caring for a baby doll left her more sleepless than expected. Still, she describes it as a fun and memorable experience.

Her advice to her younger self would be: “Don’t rush to grow up. Adulting is hard. Enjoy the time now, because one day it’ll all be memories you’ll miss.”

When she has time to relax, Officer Ealy enjoys watching To Catch a Smuggler. Looking ahead to this school year at Statesville High, her goal is to learn and regularly use students’ names on campus. By doing so, she hopes to build rapport and create a more approachable, supportive presence as she begins her journey as an SRO.

Officer Julie Emory – Statesville High School

Officer Julie Emory has been in law enforcement for seven years, beginning her career with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Statesville Police Department five years ago.

She has spent the last three school years as a School Resource Officer - first at Northview Academy and now at Statesville High School.

For Officer Emory, one of the best parts of being an SRO is the unique opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students. She enjoys being a source of guidance, support, and safety both inside and outside of school. She also admits that the role comes with some perks—like plenty of steps just by walking the hallways each day, and a front-row seat to the ever-changing drama of high school life.

This past summer, Officer Emory enjoyed time with family and friends, hiking, beach trips, and plenty of rest before the school year began. Back in her own school days, her favorite class was math (though she jokes that “lunch” really deserved top honors).

Her advice to her younger self would be to not stress about fitting in, stay true to yourself, and focus on long-term goals. She also notes that high school drama quickly fades after graduation, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.

When she has downtime, Officer Emory enjoys Law & Order: SVU, Outer Banks, and Gilmore Girls. Looking ahead to this school year, her goals include learning as many student names as possible, continuing to strengthen connections with both students and staff, and fostering a safe and positive learning environment at Statesville High.

As we roll out this series, we hope you’ll enjoy getting to know the faces behind the uniforms. Each of our SROs brings unique strengths, passions, and personalities to their schools, but they all share one common mission: keeping students safe while building positive connections that last far beyond the school day.

Together, we can recognize these real-life heroes who help shape safer, stronger schools for our community.

Learn more about the Statesville Police Department: police.statesvillenc.net