The Georgia Association of School Resource Officers (GASRO) Conference in Young Harris is taking on special meaning this week. It’s being held just days after the untimely death of one of Habersham County’s own SROs, Patrick Mayfield. And, in a sad twist of fate, this year’s conference is being hosted by Mayfield’s fellow officers.
Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell announced back in May that he and the county’s school resource officers were asked to host the state-wide event. GASRO president Ted Thomas at the time praised Terrell and Habersham’s SROs for the “incredible strides (they) have made in connecting with the school community and in enhancing school safety through technology.”
SRO Patrick Mayfield was part of that. The online tributes that continue to flow days after his death are evidence of how well he connected with the community he served. He was known. He was respected. He was appreciated. He was loved.
Now, he is missed.
In his memory, Mayfield’s fellow officers set up a missing man table at the GASRO Conference that started July 7 at Brasstown Valley Resort. It’s an outward display of the loss many are feeling.
While it’s hard to imagine how difficult it must be for the sheriff and SROs to host such a prestigious event during a time of such sorrow, it is perhaps the greatest tribute they could pay to their fallen brother. Forging ahead in their grief as law officers often do, they’re sharing the lessons and techniques they have learned to help keep school children safe.
That’s what SRO Mayfield dedicated his life to doing and it’s one of the reasons he will long be remembered.
Photo: HCSO Facebook
