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Rutherfordton, N.C. – A heated debate over school safety funding escalated at Thursday’s Rutherford County Commissioners’ goal-setting work session budget meeting, culminating in a confrontation with Rutherford County School Board member Thomas Crawford, and police were called. The exchange exposed deep divisions between some of the county commissioners and the school board over the allocation and management of school safety funds. County Commissioner (and Narcotics Detective) Hunter Haynes advocated for the creation of a task force to discuss the issue at the Feb. 3 commissioners meeting, but it was not approved to be added to the agenda.
The confrontation occurred during discussions about funding for School Resource Officers (SROs). Chairman Bryan King defended the commission’s handling of the issue stemming from what they voted for in 2022, while Crawford, the only school board member in attendance, attempted to challenge what he viewed as misleading statements.
I was there covering the meeting and saw what unfolded first-hand, and so did my camera. The video doesn’t lie, watch it above, in case you missed my exclusive Facebook livestream.
Crawford Challenges Commission's Narrative
Crawford, who was taking notes during the meeting, seemed to be caught off guard when Chairman King appeared to direct a pointed remark at him regarding school safety plans. "If you’ve been there (on the school board) long enough, you would know," King said while holding up what was later identified as the publicly available 2021-2026 North Carolina State Action Plan for School Safety. Crawford won his primary and was officially elected in November 2024.
The guide that King held up is a public document, even though he claimed it wasn’t, along with school safety plans. The NC State Action Plan for School Safety 2021-2026 is available for viewing and download on the state’s website along with other resources for law enforcement, governments, and schools. State, local school districts, and federal grants pay for SROs in North Carolina.
One of the objectives of the plan is to “Improve the annual SRO census so that schools and local law enforcement agencies coordinate their responses and address funding, assignment to schools/assignment sharing, and appropriate law enforcement agency designation.”
Crawford later posted on social media and told Cops & Congress that he believed King’s remark was a clear attempt to publicly undermine him. "It is evident that anyone with a marginal IQ and at best mediocre reasoning skills could ascertain the comment was a chance for Chairman King to set the rules and then take a cheap shot at a sitting school board member," Crawford said.
He also took issue with how the meeting was handled, specifically challenging County Manager Steve Garrison’s authority in the matter. "The County Manager has no authority to rule me out of order. Therefore, I issued a stern invitation for him to attempt to do so," Crawford said. "He is a non-elected bureaucrat who, as of this writing, has not published the audited county comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. It is February."
In contrast, Crawford praised the Rutherford County School Board’s transparency, noting that it had already completed and published its financial reports. "The Rutherford County School Board, via the competent work of our finance department and independent auditors, has [published its report]. We are fully transparent with our record-keeping, and budget updates are given every month at the regular meetings of the board," he said. "What say you, County Commissioners? Put aside Helene for a second—let the public see what the budget looked like before Helene, ending June 30, 2024."
Funding for SROs: Where Did the Money Go?
The dispute over school safety funding has been ongoing. During the meeting, Commissioners reviewed budget decisions from 2022, when the county approved funding for up to eight new SROs. The funding was intended to come from a mix of state grants, the local appropriation to Rutherford County Schools, and sheriff’s office funds.
However, despite the funding being available, an updated agreement between the school board and sheriff’s office was never signed, King said, meaning several elementary schools remain without full-time SROs.
Chairman King argued that the commission had done its part and that it was up to the school board to ensure officers were in place. "We provided the funding, and they had the authority to put an officer in each school, but they did not take action," he said.
Crawford sees the issue differently, arguing that the commission is playing politics rather than working with the school board to address the problem."The safety of our children shouldn’t be about political grandstanding. We need a unified strategy, not finger-pointing," he later said.
The Moment Crawford Was Escorted Out
As the discussion continued, the meeting became more contentious. When commissioners suggested that the school board had misallocated funds meant for security, Crawford objected.
The situation reached a boiling point when County Manager Steve Garrison attempted to call Crawford out of order. Crawford refused to back down, leading to Chairman King ordering his removal.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," King said. "You better get somebody to carry me out of here," Crawford responded.
County Commissioner Michael Benfeld, a sworn law enforcement officer and retired NC State Highway Patrolman, called the police, as you can see in my video. Crawford voluntarily left the meeting room. A few minutes after deputies arrived and asked if it was an open meeting (as seen in my video). It was reported by a mainstream media outlet that Crawford was escorted from the chamber. That’s factually inaccurate. He left voluntarily. He may have been escorted from the foyer to his vehicle, but I did not personally witness that as I was recording the meeting.
In an email on Thursday to Cops & Congress from Crawford he said, “Please allow me to go on the record and tell my side of the story. I was asked to exit the County Commissioners budget tonight. I got a police escort out (they were doing their job.) I was sitting in the chambers observing and taking notes. TOPIC was school safety and school safety plans. The Chairman of the Commissioners Bryan King looked directly at me and stated, “If you were on the school board long enough you would know about this (safety plans).” I was the only board member present so his remarks had to be directed at me. I thought it was a cheap shot. I have reviewed more school safety plans than Bayer has aspirin.”
What’s Next for School Safety?
The confrontation highlights a broader issue of transparency and governance between the county commission, the school board, and the sheriff’s office.
Despite the commission allocating funds for additional SROs, delays in updating agreements and confusion over budget priorities have left some schools without full-time officers.
In response to the conflict, some officials are proposing:
A school safety task force that would bring together commissioners, school board members, and law enforcement to streamline decision-making.
Reinstating line-item budgeting for SROs, which would prevent school administrators from reallocating those funds elsewhere.
Increased transparency in county financial reporting, as Crawford has called for.
While both the commission and school board claim to support enhanced school security, the lack of cooperation continues to hinder meaningful progress.
As the county moves into the next budget cycle, the question remains: will school safety finally become a bipartisan priority, or will political divisions continue to stall progress?
For now, Crawford’s challenge to the commission stands: "Put aside (Hurricane) Helene—let the public see what the budget looked like before Helene, ending June 30, 2024."
Who pays for SROs? It’s complicated.
The North Carolina General Assembly provides grants to fund SROs in elementary and middle schools.
The grants are awarded through an application process.
There is a required match of state funds for every dollar of non-state funds.
Local school districts may also pay for SROs.
For example, a county sheriff's department may employ SROs and pay their salaries and benefits.
The Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office provides grants to help fund SRO programs.
COPS grants can cover up to 75% of SRO costs for three years.
Private grant programs may also target SRO programs.
SROs work with school administrators to create safer environments for students and staff. They are employed by a local police or sheriff's department.
Neither work session meeting was listed on the budget calendar. Stay tuned for further updates on how these priorities unfold in Rutherford County.
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress commentary
Three Things to Watch as Budget Discussions Continue
The recent Rutherford County budget meeting put school safety—and government accountability—front and center. The debate over funding for SROs, financial transparency, and decision-making power is far from settled. As budget discussions continue in the coming weeks, here are three key issues to watch:
1. Will the Commission and School Board Agree on SRO Funding?
The county commission insists it has already funded additional SROs, but the school board has yet to implement them in every school. The delay appears to stem from an outdated agreement between the school board and the sheriff’s office, which both former Sheriff Chris Francis and current Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg attempted to revise.
Three questions I have:
Will a new agreement be finalized to ensure full SRO coverage?
Will commissioners push for a line-item budget to prevent funds from being reallocated?
Will the school board justify past funding decisions?
Expect both sides to keep blaming each other, but ultimately, taxpayers and parents will want to see solutions—not political gridlock.
2. Will County Leaders Address Budget Transparency?
The county has not yet published its audited financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The website doesn’t list it. Meanwhile, the school board has already completed and released its financials. Why is the county months behind on its comprehensive financial report? If commissioners want to talk about accountability, they need to lead by example. Watch for pressure to mount on County Manager Steve Garrison to release the county’s financials—or at least explain the delay.
3. Will the Public Demand More Say in Budget Priorities?
County officials want school safety to be a priority, but funding decisions remain shrouded in bureaucracy. The public should be asking:
Who really decides where tax dollars go?
Why are safety priorities left to closed-door agreements?
Will a school safety task force bring real solutions or just more meetings?
Crawford has challenged the commission to release a pre-Helene budget snapshot, showing how funds were allocated before the FEMA disaster relief spending began. Will county leaders take him up on that?
The Bottom Line
Public safety—including school security—shouldn’t be a political football. The commission, school board, and sheriff’s office all claim to support it, yet bureaucratic delays persist.
As budget discussions continue, expect more political maneuvering, more deflection, and possibly more fireworks. But the real test will be whether elected officials can put aside power struggles and prioritize the safety and transparency taxpayers deserve.
Thank you for reading and watching. Learn more about this newsletter and my background. I am guided by the Society for Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Follow me on X (Twitter), Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Send constructive criticism, fan mail and tips with public documents for future stories: CopsandCongress@gmail.com.
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