RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - On this episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker speaks with Rutherford County School Resource Officers Sgt. Dustin Cox and SRO Sam Trubee (L to R: Photo of SROs below article) for a revealing discussion about how poverty shapes the lives of local students. The officers highlight how economic hardship affects attendance, behavior, and emotional stability—and they share how strong relationships with students can alter the course of a child’s future. They also highlighted a past SRO class that discussed sexual abuse, leading to one child coming forward to share personal information with a school resource officer. In that case, Sgt. Cox noted that the courts have been successful in prosecuting the case.

Poverty also impacts children negatively. Currently, there has been a long-standing challenge within the school district in the number of students classified as homeless. In 2016, 1,266 students (2.87%) were documented as experiencing homelessness. Today, that figure sits at almost 1,400 students, or 2.69%, showing that despite growth across the county, the percentage has remained nearly unchanged for eight years.

The officers also preview the upcoming Shop with the Sheriff program, an annual event that gives children living in poverty the chance to enjoy a Christmas shopping experience they otherwise could not afford. To support the effort, a community fundraiser will be held December 2, 2025, from 5–8 PM at all Toot’s restaurant locations in Murfreesboro. Additionally, Cox and Trubee discuss one of the most alarming trends among teens today—cellphone dependency and social media–driven anxiety. They reference findings from a recent study presented at the JAMA Summit Report in Clinical Trials, which linked compulsive social media habits to increased suicide risk among teenagers. The report showed many students exhibit “addictive” behaviors, including repetitive device-checking and feeling unable to stop using their phones (Click Here for Study).. This episode sheds light on the hidden battles students face daily and emphasizes how community support can make a crucial difference.

SRO “Shop with the Sheriff” Fundraiser Locations on Dec. 2, 2025 (5 to 8 PM):

• Toot's South: 2992 S Church St, Murfreesboro, TN 37127

• Toot's Broad Street: 860 NW Broad St, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

• Toot's West: 4213 Franklin Rd, Murfreesboro, TN 37128