Loudoun County Sheriff requests $18 million for elementary school deputies | The Locally Times
The proposal adds 62 armed deputies to elementary schools over four years, citing 1,500 service calls in the 2024-25 school year.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman requested an $18 million annual budget to station armed deputies in all 62 public elementary schools. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reported responding to 1,500 service calls at these locations during the 2024-25 academic year, a period when no deputies were assigned to those campuses. ## Implementation and Costs The Sheriff’s Office proposed a four-year schedule to staff the 62 elementary schools. The plan adds 15 deputies per year until all locations have coverage. The first year of the program, designated FY27, requires $6.7 million for start-up expenses, salary, and equipment. Once fully implemented, the Sheriff’s Office projects the recurring annual cost at $18 million. The Sheriff’s Office budget would manage these funds, separate from the Loudoun County Public Schools budget. The report states that 29% of public elementary schools in Virginia currently use School Resource Officers, or SROs, which are law enforcement officers assigned to school campuses. The department also cited data claiming elementary school shooting incidents rose 1,071% over the past decade. The proposal states that SROs would work with existing unarmed school security staff. ## Budget Impact The $18 million annual cost requires approval from the Board of Supervisors as part of the county budget process. Because the county must absorb this expense, the proposal affects the availability of funds for other school infrastructure or public safety priorities. The Board of Supervisors has not finalized a decision on the funding level as of June 15, 2026. The Sheriff’s Office has not provided a specific breakdown of how this $18 million expenditure would affect the current property tax rate. ## Key Questions **How much will this program cost taxpayers annually?** The Sheriff’s Office estimates a recurring annual cost of $18 million, with $6.7 million required for the first year, FY27. **How many schools will receive a deputy?** The proposal covers approximately 62 public elementary schools over a four-year period. **Why is the Sheriff requesting this funding?** The request follows the 2024-25 academic year, during which the Sheriff’s Office responded to 1,500 service calls at elementary schools that lacked assigned deputies.