Published 2:57 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2026

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is adding another uniformed police officer in schools across the county in response to the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting.

The sheriff’s office is adding a fourth school resource deputy, who will help lighten the load of other deputies who are part of the office’s school resource program. They will be assigned to schools in Terrebonne and Tumalo.

Currently three full-time school resource deputies serve schools in Sisters, La Pine, Terrebonne, Tumalo, Bend’s Buckingham Elementary amd Realms Middle School and Sunriver’s Three Rivers School.

“Our schools must remain safe places for students to learn and grow,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert, who is currently running for election.

While the sheriff’s office is taking internal applications for the position, Deputy Josh Westfall, a previous school resource deputy, has been temporarily assigned to provide interim coverage.

The new position will provide “roughly…