From left, Addison High School Principal Scott Flynn, Addison Elementary Principal Cindy Hastings and new school resource officer Andrew Wray in the hallways of the high school.
ADDISON - A long-time veteran of law enforcement has come on board as school resource officer for Addison Schools, with a positive outlook and enthusiasm that has endeared him to students from all grade levels already.
Andrew Wray was highly recommended to the Addison Town Council, which voted unanimously at their February meeting to hire him.
The town has had at least three school resource officers over the past few years. The school’s first resource officer, Brett Rodgers, resigned to accept a job with the Winston County Sheriff’s Office, according to Addison Police Chief Mitchell Woodard. Rodgers now works at the state fire marshal’s office.
Tim Williams served after that as SRO, but resigned to accept a position in law enforcement at Moulton, Woodard added.
The town then hired Ava Talley, its first female police officer and SRO, but she resigned after only three weeks due to personal reasons, Woodard said.
Vance Summers was hired as the next SRO at Addison just before school started for the 2025-2026 school year, but resigned close to the end of the first semester, to accept a job in law enforcement at Priceville, Woodard further explained.
During the transition between SROs, the Addison Police Department made sure law enforcement kept a presence in the school, according to Woodard.
Wray, who retired from Cullman County last year, is the newest SRO and is a good fit for the school, having worked in both law enforcement and as a school resource officer, Woodard said.
Four applications were submitted for the SRO position this time, with Wray standing out with Addison town officials due to his APOST certification, meaning he has obtained all the necessary training through the law enforcement academy, town officials explained.
Wray was hired by the town at $20 per hour, with a year’s probationary period, town officials said.
“He seems to be doing good,” said Woodard. “We haven’t had any complaints on him. He’s had a lot of training over the years.
“He’s drawing his retirement, so he is only working during the school year because he is only allowed to make so much money, so he is just listed as part-time,” Woodard explained.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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