Cox HS SRO honored for service to school
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — School resource officers have become important parts of school communities.
They are often the first point of contact if something is going wrong, and they are tasked with keeping the school safe.
One officer in Virginia Beach was honored Wednesday, and teachers and students were able to surprise him with that.
Despite a wet, gloomy day at Cox, students and staff honored their own ray of sunshine in student resource officer Chris Moran.
Under the guise of a physical altercation in progress, Moran was lured to the auditorium for a surprise award ceremony.
This is all part of Virginia Kindness Week, as Moran was nominated by students at the school for his unwavering dedication and positive influence. He also received a national award from the 'Dude Be Nice Project,' founded by Brent Camalich.
'Part of what we started to do is celebrate those unsung heroes in communities across the country and get kids involved in those celebrations,' Camalich said. 'So not only is it a great experience for the person, the recipient, but also, the students to be a part of doing something nice for someone without any expectation of something in return.'
As an officer with more than 30 years in law enforcement, Moran has endeared himself to the students at Cox in the short five years he has been an SRO at the school. He found the ceremony humbling.
'Years ago, if you told me I was going to be an SRO, I would have told you you were crazy,' Moran said. 'But after getting this job and meeting the kids and talking to them, it's one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. You know, the kids gaining these kids trust. You will learn a lot about them, and that helps in other situations.'
Family and friends were on hand as Moran received a ring, gift cards and a Cox Falcons jersey, but the relationships he's built with these students is what he truly cherishes.
'That's the benefit of gaining these kids trust,' Moran said. 'They will tell you things about themselves and you can be supportive to them and be someone that they can come to and talk to. It's why being an example is kind of important, because you can't let these kids down. You make a promise to them and keep it, you know?'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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