As a principal, there are many things that happen during a school day that you prepare for. There are procedures, plans, drills, and protocols for almost every situation imaginable.
But nothing prepares you for watching two of your School Resource Officers help save the life of a seven-month-old baby.
This afternoon, a grandmother was driving with her seven-month-old grandchild when the infant began choking on a piece of food. She called 911 and told dispatch that she was about to pull into Dothan High School looking for help.
And by the grace of God, she pulled into a place where the right people were waiting. Corporal Trent Adams and Corporal Daniel Volkman of the Dothan Police Department, our School Resource Officers at Dothan High School, responded immediately. All we heard on the school radio was “seven month old choking, front of the school, EMS is en route, and I’m starting CPR.”
There was no hesitation. They went straight to that baby and began life-saving measures, including CPR. Working quickly and calmly, they were able to dislodge the food from the infant’s airway just prior to Dothan Fire Rescue and EMS arriving. Their actions very likely saved that baby’s life.
And there is another part of today’s story that I believe is worth sharing.
I am sure there were people who drove past Dothan High School this afternoon, saw police vehicles, Fire Rescue, and EMS on our campus and immediately thought, “What now?” I understand that reaction. But today is also a powerful reminder that surface-level information can easily become misinformation when we don’t know the whole story.
What someone saw from the road may have looked like another problem at a high school. What was actually happening behind those emergency vehicles was something entirely different: two police officers were helping possibly save the life of a seven-month-old child.
There is almost always more to a story than what can be seen through a windshield, heard secondhand, or gathered from a social media post. Today is a good reminder for all of us to seek the full story before forming a conclusion or passing one along.
We live in a time when we often hear about what is wrong. We hear the complaints. We hear when someone is unhappy with law enforcement or upset with the service they received. Those stories sometimes seem to travel much farther and faster than the stories about the men and women who quietly show up every single day and do their jobs with courage, compassion, and professionalism.
Today, I had the privilege of witnessing the other story. I watched two men who normally walk our hallways, talk with our students, support our teachers, attend our ballgames, and help keep our campus safe suddenly find themselves facing a life-or-death situation involving a seven-month-old child.
And when seconds mattered, they answered the call. I cannot imagine the fear that grandmother felt as she pulled onto our campus. But I also cannot help but think about how fortunate she was that Corporal Adams and Corporal Volkman were standing ready to help.
Today reminded me that our SROs are so much more than officers assigned to a school. They become part of our family. They protect our children. They care for our people. And sometimes, when God places someone in their path who desperately needs them, they save a life.
As Principal of Dothan High School, I could not be more proud to have Corporal Trent Adams and Corporal Daniel Volkman serving alongside us. Gentlemen, there are simply not enough words to adequately say thank you.
Today, you didn’t just wear the badge. You showed all of us what that badge represents.
Service. Courage. Compassion. Sacrifice.
And above all else, you showed us what true heroism looks like.
We are proud of you, and we are incredibly grateful you are part of our Wolf family.
🐺❤️ #WolfNation #DothanHighSchool #DothanPoliceDepartment #OurSROs #TrueHeroes #ProtectAndServe
