8 Ballistic Shields Donated To Haskell County Schools, Law Enforcement

Every school campus in Haskell County will now have a ballistic shield in case something terrible happens, like a shooting.

"Any safety that we can have within our schools to aide our administrators and teachers and make our schools safer is a great thing," said Stigler Superintendent David Morgan.

The Jerry Jackson Foundation in Stigler donated $18,400 through the Stand 1st foundation for the sheriff's department to get eight shields. One for each campus and two left over to keep with the police department and sheriff's office.

"We just hope they never have to use them, but in case they do, we feel a little safer that they are there in the school and give someone some protection to save kids or some lives there," said Mike Butler with the Jerry Jackson Foundation.

The donation has been in the works since last October.

Former Sheriff Tim Turner worked with the foundation and Stand 1st to make it happen and said it was one of his top priorities.

"If you can take a county the size of 12,000 and put a shield in every school in our county to make sure that at least one child is safe if we have a shooting, we've done something," Turner said.

Sheriff Scott Walton started Stand 1st, and said sadly, these shields are becoming a necessity and he's proud of the Haskell County community for stepping up to help keep people safe.

"Our mission here is to get these into law enforcement's hands.. especially in the communities where they aren't going to see it in their county budget," he said.

The Stand 1st Foundation has now given out a total of 25 shields.