S.C. Elementary School Resource Officer Fired After DHS Investigation

  • By Matt Jones
  • March 17, 2021

A school resource officer from an elementary school in Westminster, S.C., was fired last week following an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff Michael Crenshaw said in a statement that John Towery was fired as both the Fair-Oak Elementary School SRO and an employee with the sheriff’s office after the department was made aware of a federal investigation. Crenshaw said that the investigation has been ongoing for several months and that his office provided assistance after being briefed on the facts of the case. Towery was fired on Thursday, March 11.

“This is an ongoing investigation, so as you know, I can’t share specific details,” Crenshaw said. “I will share with you that, based on what I know at this time, John’s involvement in this investigation occurred outside of our county and does not involve any citizens from our county, nor any other employees of our department. The Sheriff’s Office embraces high standards of accountability in our mission statement. I hold our employees to the high standard that our citizens expect from law enforcement.”

Towery joined the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in 2012, said Crenshaw, and before that was an employee of the Edisto Beach Police Department.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

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