Cherokee Elementary in Liberty Township will have a new uniformed officer in its hallways when classes begin Aug. 13: Seth Caudell, the school's incoming School Resource Officer for the 2026-27 year.

Principal Mike Stapleton announced the assignment in the school's Aug. 7 newsletter, writing that "Officer Seth" will spend the year building relationships with students, staff and families while supporting school safety.

Caudell fills a position that turned over twice in four months. Lt. Carl Sigmon, who served as Cherokee's SRO for seven years, left in April for a new job. Deputy Jeremy Dragoo stepped in as interim SRO for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.

In an April 24 newsletter marking Sigmon's departure, then-Principal Valerie Montgomery recalled his daily presence, including "lively rock-paper-scissors battles in the lunchroom" and keeping the school steady during COVID across his seven-year tenure.

The Aug. 7 newsletter does not specify whether Caudell is a Butler County Sheriff's Office deputy or a West Chester Police Department officer. The newsletter refers to him as "Officer Seth" and "Officer Caudell." Liberty Township contracts with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement under a four-year agreement starting at $3.9 million annually that began Jan. 1, 2025, according to WCPO. Lakota Local School District's SRO program draws officers from both agencies.

The district places an SRO on every campus, and both the Sheriff's Office and West Chester Police Department share the cost of those positions alongside the district, according to Lakota's website.

Families can meet Caudell at Cherokee's Back-to-School Open House on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Two sessions are scheduled: last names A–L from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and last names M–Z from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. The first day of school is staggered, with students whose last names begin A–L attending Thursday, Aug. 13, and M–Z attending Friday, Aug. 14. All students report together beginning Monday, Aug. 17.