WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Florida’s school resource officer of the year is a man who became a hero in April at Forest High School in Ocala.
Resource officer Jimmy Long was given the honor yesterday — in part because of his actions when a former student brought a gun to campus and fired, wounding one person.
Long helped respond and take shooting suspect Sky Bouche into custody. Bouche remains jailed. In prepared remarks, attorney general Pam Bondi said Long truly exemplified what heroism is.
Today I named @MCSOFlorida Cpl. Jimmy Long the 2018 School Resource Officer of the Year. On 04/20/18, after hearing gun shots at Forest High School, Cpl. Long did not hesitate to protect the lives of innocent high schoolers. Cpl. Long is a hero & we honor him for his courage. pic.twitter.com/DKEDLH8IGi
— Fla. AG Pam Bondi (@AGPamBondi) June 19, 2018
Three weeks ago, the sheriff’s office released Long’s body camera footage from that day:
