Cadiz Mayor Todd King and the Cadiz Police Department swore in a third school resource officer Wednesday morning, naming Richard Palmer to the force.
A Calloway County native and graduate of its high school, Palmer began his law enforcement career in the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and served there eight or so years before becoming active military.
After retirement, he returned to law enforcement, where he has since served both Calloway County and the local parks system in different roles before taking this position.
Palmer said there’s a personal reason why he even applied in the first place.
Cadiz Police Chief Duncan Wiggins noted the Cadiz Police Department has had at least one school resource officer on the Trigg County campus since 1999, beginning with News Edge’s own Scott Brown.
The school already has two resource officers in Jack Lingenfelter and Shawn Young, and Wiggins said a third offers a strong rotation of help.
Trigg County’s campus covers more than 11 acres, and with multiple buildings, Wiggins added there’s several situations that allow for three school resource officers to work congruently.
A school resource officer for the first time, Palmer said law enforcement needs to be able to bridge the gap between children and officers — in order to create safety and trust in the community.
Wiggins said Palmer will have other duties when school is not in session.
