School Resource Officers

School Resource Officers

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a certified law enforcement officer.  Their duties at their designated schools are multi-leveled.  First and foremost, they are prepared and trained to protect the students, faculty, and staff from intruders, conduct criminal investigations and patrol the school campus.  They also provide security for after school events and sporting events across the state.  SRO's are also educators.  They conduct classroom presentations on a variety of law related subjects such as school safety, crime prevention, and conflict resolution.  SRO's are also counselors.  They offer advice in law related matters to students, parents, and the school's staff and administration.  At any time, students may come to the SRO with problems that they do not feel comfortable discussing with school officials.  The motto of the School Resource Officer Division at the Simpsonville Police Department is simple but clear, they are "Protecting Simpsonville's Future."

School Resource Officer Morris L. Madden

SRO Morris L. Madden
Hillcrest High School

SRO Madden graduated from Laurens High School in 1989 and earned his Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice from Spartanburg Methodist College in 1991.  He began his law enforcement career as an intern/volunteer with the Laurens Co. Sheriff's Office in 1992.  In 1995, he was hired by the Laurens City Police Dept.  He worked for Laurens City Police Dept. over 9 years before accepting a position with the Simpsonville Police Dept. in 2004.  After a few short months in the Uniform Patrol Division, he was given the opportunity to transfer over to the Community Support Division and become the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest High School.  He gladly accepted and officially began his career as an SRO.  He has attended numerous training classes in order to help him become a better SRO such as Basic and Advanced SRO Certification, conflict resolution courses, and crisis and critical response training to name just a few.  He thoroughly enjoys being an SRO.  Throughout his years at Hillcrest High he has had the opportunity to watch countless numbers of shy, unsure of themselves freshmen grow into well rounded seniors.  He takes a small measure of pride with every student that walks across the stage at graduation.  By helping provide a safe and secure learning environment, those students were able to grow, learn, and thus graduate from high school.  To him that is what being an SRO is all about.  Helping your students be successful. 

Contact School Resource Officer Madden:
Phone: 864-355-3596
Email: mmadden@simpsonvillepd.com or mlmadden@greenville.k12.sc.us

School Resource Officer Darren Payne

SRO Darren Payne
Hillcrest Middle School

SRO Payne graduated from Word of Life Christian School in 2005 and attended Destiny Bible College from 2005 to 2007 where he majored in Practical Theology.  He began his law enforcement career when he was hired by the Simpsonville Police Department in 2012. He was offered a School Resource Officer position at Hillcrest High School in November of 2012 and accepted the position immediately as he attended Hillcrest High School his freshmen, sophomore, and junior years.  He could not wait to work and make a difference in the school he once attended.  Accepting the position to become a School Resource Officer was one of the best choices he has ever made.  Not only has he had the opportunity to affect the lives of several students, but just as many students have had a tremendous impact on his life. SRO Payne transferred to Hillcrest Middle School in 2022. SRO Payne was named SRO of the Year in 2013 and 2017.  The Simpsonville Chamber of Commerce also named him the Police Officer of the Year in 2016.  SRO Payne continues to look forward to serving the surrounding communities by "Protecting Simpsonville's Future!"

Contact School Resource Officer Payne:
Phone: 864-355-6100
Email: dpayne@simpsonvillepd.com or dpayne@greenville.k12.sc.us

School Resource Officer Doug Nicholls

SRO Doug Nicholls
Bryson Middle School

In 1997, SRO Nicholls began his career with the Simpsonville Police Dept.  He was assigned to the Patrol Division and after a few short years of service, he later achieved the rank of Corporal.  He continued serving as a Patrol Shift Supervisor.   Since that time, he has had the privilege of working for other agencies to further his knowledge and skills as a police officer.  In 2001, he began serving with the Myrtle Beach Police Dept. He spent time assigned to the Patrol Division, Special Operations Waterfront Division, Bike Patrol Division, and the Street Crimes Division.  In 2010, he began serving with the Mauldin Police Dept. and was assigned to the Patrol Division.  In 2014, he returned to the Simpsonville Police Dept. and was assigned as the School Resource Officer for Bryson Middle School.  Throughout his career as a LEO, being an SRO at Bryson Middle has truly been one of his favorite positions.  Bryson Middle School consists of approx. 1,100 students of whom he gets to interact with on a daily basis.  His goal as their SRO is maintaining a safe and secure learning environment while having a positive influence of the students and staff as well as reducing crime via use of intervention strategies, proactive policing, and networking. 

Contact School Resource Officer Nicholls:
Phone: 864-355-2115
Email: dnicholls@simpsonvillepd.com or dnicholls@greenville.k12.sc.us

SRO Tyler Hancock

Hillcrest High School

thancock@simpsonvillepd.com

864-355-3596

SRO Hector Zapata

Hillcrest High School

hzapata@simpsonvillepd.com

SRO Michael Sweatt

Plain Elementary School

msweatt@simpsonvillepd.com

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