AT BEL-AIRE Elementary School’s kindergarten graduation, teachers asked what each student wanted to be when they grew up. Will Spurgeon, the school resource officer (SRO), stood in the back and listened.
“The majority of the students said a police officer,” he said. “And the school had never seen anything like that before the SRO program.”
Spurgeon had once thought he would never work in a school, but he said that his heart changed after starting as SRO at Bel-Aire.
Spurgeon was raised in Santa Rosa, California, and joined the Army in 1990. He served for 12 years, stationed twice in Germany and once each at Fort Carson and Fort Riley. He then took a position in the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. This first step into law enforcement solidified his desire to become a police officer.
After his stint in the military, he became a reserve deputy sheriff in Kansas, then a city police officer in Washington state. He and his wife, Denice, moved to Tullahoma in October 2022 when her job transferred her to Arnold Air Force Base. Spurgeon joined the Tullahoma Police Department in March 2023. Around the same time, a tragic shooting occurred at The Covenant School, and one week later, Spurgeon was assigned to Bel-Aire Elementary full time as a school resource officer.
“It’s a new program here in Tullahoma. Before we came in, there was only one SRO for all of the schools, but after the Covenant shooting, they decided to put someone in every school,” Spurgeon said.
Spurgeon was the only permanently placed SRO at first, with other officers rotating in and out of the other schools. He said that now, every school, including the alternative school, has its own. The position required a week of SRO-specific training.
Each day for Spurgeon starts with a 7 a.m. building walk, followed by crossing guard duty and a full-perimeter sweep. He coordinates with the office staff each morning to organize field trip departures, parking logistics, and anything that could affect that day’s safety procedures. Throughout the afternoon, he walks the halls, monitors recess, and even helps kids open milk cartons in the cafeteria at lunch. He is not the school disciplinarian — his job is to ensure safety, build trust, and be present to support what Bel-Aire affectionately calls its school community, “the Hive.”
Spurgeon keeps a chair near the front of the school, in a spot every class passes on its way to the library, music, and art. He makes a point of engaging each kid.
“Officer Will is an encouraging, consistent, kind, and safe presence for everyone in the Hive,” Joy Claybrook, a Bel-Aire mom, said.
Her son, Griffin, a rising fourth grader, agreed.
“He smiles at us and gives us high fives when we come in,” Griffin said. “He is kind, generous, and whenever someone needs help, he gets there immediately.”
Spurgeon’s encouragement and accessibility are intentional.
“I want the kids to have a respect for law enforcement, which has gone down over the past years,” Spurgeon said. “I want them to be able to come up to any police officer confidently and know that they’ll be helped.”
Students who have moved on to West Middle School still find him at games and walk straight over to say “hello.”
When a child is having a particularly hard day, Spurgeon takes them on a walk in the halls. They check door handles together and quietly close any classroom doors left open, which are normal safety procedures for the officer. By the time they have completed the loop, the child is usually ready to return to class.
“It gets them out of the environment that they’re in that’s causing the problem,” he said. “I’m also giving them something to take charge of that they can fix.” Spurgeon also helps kids dealing with difficult situations at home by connecting their families with school resources. He coordinates with the school counselor when needed.
Outside school hours, Spurgeon attends science nights, Christmas events, sporting events, and Bowling with Badges, a free community event.
“There are so many that are grateful for him as an SRO and as another supportive adult at the school,” Joy Claybrook said.
Her younger son, Joel Claybrook, said he is glad to know he can count on Spurgeon each day.
“Officer Will makes me feel safe and comfortable,” Joel said.
Many students feel the same. Spurgeon has binders full of drawings, cards, and artwork from grateful students. Students who might have felt trepidation about him on the first day were the same ones who now save him a seat at their lunch table.
“I told my boss recently that if they ever reassigned me, I would quit,” Spurgeon said.
His dedication to the job and to the people he serves inspires new and returning students each year.
“Officer Will has become a part of the Bel-Aire family,” Bel-Aire’s principal, Clint Epley, said. “He is kind, courteous, and patient. We’re thankful for him as an SRO as he helps provide a safe environment for learning to take place.” GN
