Charlottesville Schools and Police Begin Hiring School Resource Officers

New SROs will be placed at Charlottesville High School and Charlottesville Middle School starting in August.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Charlottesville City Schools (CCS) and the Charlottesville Police Department (CPD) have started the process of hiring two school resource officers (SROs) to serve Charlottesville High School and Charlottesville Middle School. The positions will be posted soon, and the school district will be involved in the selection process. This comes after the School Board voted last year to bring back SROs, following a period of public feedback to refine the guidelines for the program.

Why it matters

The return of SROs to Charlottesville schools has been a controversial topic, with mixed opinions in the community. The hiring of these officers aims to balance school safety concerns with issues around the role of police in an educational setting.

The details

CCS Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley and Charlottesville Police Chief Mike Kochis have signed a memorandum of understanding detailing how the SRO program will work. Chief Kochis says he's aware of the challenges faced by him and Gurley in light of the mixed opinions on SROs, but they have an excellent working relationship and are committed to making the program successful.

  • The School Board voted to bring back SROs in March 2025.
  • CCS held public 'listening hours' to refine the guidelines for SROs following the board's decision.
  • The hiring process for the two SRO positions will begin in February 2026, with the officers expected to start in August 2026.

The players

Charlottesville City Schools (CCS)

The public school district serving the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Charlottesville Police Department (CPD)

The law enforcement agency responsible for policing the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Royal Gurley

The Superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools.

Mike Kochis

The Chief of the Charlottesville Police Department.

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What they’re saying

“Advertising it should actually come out today or tomorrow. So, if there's a sworn officer in Virginia who's interested in being an SRO, they can apply. You have to be a Virginia certified officer, and then we will have a selection process. And the school will be part of that process of selecting the officers.”

— Mike Kochis, Charlottesville Police Chief (WINA Morning News)

“Dr. Gurley and I have an excellent relationship. We always have. I hold him in very high regard, and I think that relationship is very important. We talk regularly and he's thoughtful. He has a different dynamic of what he has to deal with, that I have to deal with. We understand that, and we respect that.”

— Mike Kochis, Charlottesville Police Chief (WINA Morning News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.