Oconee County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer Recognized for School Initiative

(From L - R: Investigator Sergeant Rashad Crooks, 5th Grade Student Jasper Burdick and School Resource Officer, Corporal Justice Lee

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------An Oconee County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer was recently recognized at a School District of Oconee County board meeting for an initiative that recognizes students at the school he is assigned to.

Corporal Justice Lee is the School Resource Officer at Northside Elementary School in Seneca.  Each month, Justice Lee recognizes a “Hero of the Month” from the student body at Northside Elementary.  The “Hero of the Month” recognizes a student who has demonstrated kindness, hard work and personal growth. 

“I realize that there’s kids that do the right thing all the time but sometime don’t get noticed for it,” according to Corporal Lee.  “I wanted to do it for a kid that throughout the month is doing the right thing; such as being respectful to their parents or being respectful to their teachers.”

According to Corporal Lee, teachers at Northside nominate a student at grade levels 1^st through 5th.  After the nominations are selected, Corporal Lee and the Administration at Northside select one overall “Hero of the Month,” who is then recognized with a certificate and other special recognition. 

On April 24^th, Corporal Lee, along with Investigator Sergeant Rashad Crooks of the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office, presented a certificate to 5^th grade student Jasper Burdick after he was selected as the April 2026 Hero of the Month.  According to Corporal Lee, Jasper has helped out special needs students for testing at Northside, among other things he has done that earned him the recognition as “Hero of the Month.” 

Kristin Hedden, Assistant Principal at Northside Elementary School, says that when Corporal Lee brought the idea of the “Hero of the Month” to the administration at the school, they thought it was a great idea and were very excited.  Kristin says that Corporal Lee has made a great impact on the students at Northside as the School Resource Officer.

“He has definitely made a positive impact here at Northside.  Whether it is just walking around the school, talking with kids and even helping teachers out and to just know that we can go to him, he is there for us in our corner and to just champion us on and to help us,” according to Assistant Principal Hedden.  “Corporal Lee has made a very positive impact here at Northside.” 

According to Dr. Meghan Ketterman, School District of Oconee County Board of Trustees: "What Corporal Justice Lee is building through this program goes far beyond recognition—it’s shaping a culture. This reflects the very best of what happens when schools and law enforcement come together—not just to protect, but to invest in our students. When we celebrate character, integrity, and everyday leadership, we are not only affirming these students—we are strengthening the future of our entire community."  

Corporal Lee was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in July of this year and has been the School Resource Officer at Northside Elementary since the current school year began in August.  Before coming to the Sheriff’s Office, Corporal Lee was an agent with the South Carolina Probation, Parole and Pardon Service and was an Officer with the Seneca Police Department.