Clearwater Cop Named Pinellas School District’s Best

CLEARWATER, FL — It’s not every day that a school resource officer gets paid an on-campus visit by two chiefs of police. Then again, it’s not every day that a cop wins a countywide award.

That was the case Monday morning when Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter and Pinellas County Schools Police Department Chief Rick Stelljes stopped by Oak Grove Middle. The two teamed up to inform Officer Lenshawn Price that she’d been named Pinellas County Schools’ School Resource Officer of the Year. The two chiefs were joined by Principal Dawn Coffin in telling Price the news.

Price’s win marks the second consecutive year a Clearwater Police officer has won the school district-wide honor. Officer Cathi Long, the school resource officer at Countryside High, won the accolade in 2016.

Price has worked for the Clearwater Police Department for nearly 17 years, according to the agency. She’s spent the last seven years assigned to Oak Grove Middle.

The Pinellas County School Board will honor Price during its May 9 meeting.

Photos courtesy of the Clearwater Police Department