ADEL, Ga. — A Georgia school resource officer died last week after breaking up a fight between two high school students.
Captain Terry Arnold, 59, had taken a student involved in the fight into custody at Cook High School and was escorting the student outside when he collapsed on Oct. 3, reports Yahoo News.
A Facebook post from the Cook County Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency said school medical staff and responding officers immediately provided aid until emergency medical services arrived. Arnold was transported to South Georgia Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Neither student faces charges in his death since they were attacking each other and not Arnold, the Cook County Sheriff’s office said. Cook County Schools made counselors available for students and faculty.
Arnold, who was affectionately known as “Turtle,” had just completed his 26th year with the sheriff’s department. He was the director of the School Resource Officers Division for the sheriff’s office and the Cook County School System.
Before joining the sheriff’s office, Arnold worked for the City of Adel and City of Remerton police departments, according to policemag.com. His death is the first recorded duty death in the history of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Arnold’s body was escorted Tuesday by area law enforcement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Atlanta to Purvis Funeral Home in Adel, WALB reports. Loved ones and fellow officers lined up to pay their respects. A memorial with Arnold’s work truck was set up outside Cook County Probate Office. Hundreds have since gathered to show their support.
Arnold is survived by his five children and 10 grandchildren.
