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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily News is doing a series of features on some of the new and returning School Resource Officers (SRO) to let people get to know them as the new school year kicks off. Our next story features Callaway Middle School SRO Edward Haralson.

Troup County Sheriff’s Deputy Edward Haralson has been with the sheriff’s office for 10 years and has served as an SRO at Callaway Middle School for five years.

“I also service Callaway Elementary next door, so I bounce back and forth between the two schools to assist with both of them,” Haralson said.

Haralson said TCSO is actively looking to hire a dedicated SRO for the elementary school but until they can find a qualified candidate, he’s looking over both schools.

He might be pulling double duty but Haralson said he loves his job.

“I enjoy hanging out with kids and mentoring kids and helping them, hopefully, grow into productive members of society,” Haralson said. “I enjoy hanging out with the middle schoolers as much as I enjoy going to football games and watching the kids grow as individuals.”

He noted it’s also a plus that his wife is a teacher, so it’s beneficial to work the same hours as her.

“My wife actually works next door so when I bounce over there to check on the kids, it’s also nice being able to see her as well,” Haralson said.

Haralson said the biggest way he connects with the kids is simply by talking to them, especially about their shared interests.

“I just talk to them and find out what their interests are. They’re people at the end of the day. I’m 34 years old. I grew up in the time when anime really started coming to the United States. In 1995 Dragon Ball Z came to the United States, and a lot of kids now are really picking up on anime and stuff like that, and I can make a connection there,” Haralson said. “I grew up playing video games, so I can make a connection there as well. Growing up, I played basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, and volleyball. I can just find out what they’re interested in and start a relationship with that.”

Haralson was also born and raised in Troup County, so he is invested in the community and wants to see the kids do well but his main job is to protect them.

“My main role is to protect the kids, of course, from inside and outside threats, but it’s also to build relationships with kids and hopefully be a guiding light for them in whatever future endeavors they have,” Haralson said. “I’m here to help them with whatever problems I can, even if that’s sitting down and talking about bad parts of their life and or talking about the good things.”