School Resource Officer Wins State Valor Award: Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer received the Florida Association of School Resource Officers 2021 Valor Award.

Dep. Daina Patterson was honored “for her quick response and actions to prevent a distressed student from jumping over the railing of a second-story breezeway last school year,” MCSO shared on Facebook. “We are proud of Dep. Patterson for her brave and heroic efforts.”

Patterson, the school resource officer at Haile Middle School, was also honored as MCSO Deputy of the Month in April for her actions.

In March, she was called to respond to an upset student who was standing on the second floor of the school’s breezeway area, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

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The student kept making statements for Patterson to “leave her alone” and “get away from her” and kept looking over the ledge — a half wall with railing — like she was considering jumping over it, the sheriff’s office said.

The student placed both hands on the railing facing Patterson and pushed herself up as though she was going over the ledge. The deputy raced in and was able to grab the student before she could go over the edge, MCSO said.

The state Valor Award is given to a Florida SRO “who displays heroism and distinction in extremely hazardous circumstances,” according to the FASRO website. “In order to be considered for this honor, an SRO must exhibit unusual bravery in the performance of duty while facing the threat of death or serious injury.”