Russell County SRO fired for “alcohol related” incident

Russell County Sheriff Bill Watson says a Castlewood Elementary school resource officer has been terminated following an alleged alcohol-related incident. Watson said former SRO Ryan Gardner was sent home from his job at Castlewood Elementary School on Sept. 5 amid reports to the sheriff’s office about an alleged odor of alcohol on Gardner’s breath. Gardner was sent home and subsequently suspended and then fired on the morning of Sept. 6. Sheriff Watson said  reporting has been sent from the sheriff’s office to the Department of Criminal Justice to decertify Gardner.