The City of Cynthiana is proud to welcome a new School Resource Officer (SRO), Officer Dennis Mabry, serving Harrison County High School- bringing decades of law enforcement experience, a strong commitment to student safety, and a people-first approach to the role.
With a career spanning nearly three decades, the new SRO brings a wide range of experience to the school environment, along with a clear mission: building relationships and creating a safe, supportive space for students and staff.
A Career Built on Service
Originally from Elliott County in eastern Kentucky, Officer Mabry began a career in law enforcement while attending Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University. After completing ride-alongs with the Grayson Police Department during college, he was sworn into service in 1996 and attended the police academy in 1997.
Over the years, his career has included service with multiple police departments, the Kentucky State Police, and local sheriff’s offices. During his time with Kentucky State Police, he worked as an undercover narcotics detective and served four years on an FBI task force before retiring from state police service in 2017.
He later continued serving communities through local law enforcement before being recruited to Cynthiana by Asst. Chief Peak- ultimately bringing his experience back to a community he says has always felt like home.
Why the School Resource Officer Role Matters
For him, working in a school setting is deeply personal.
“I love kids. I love people. I love meeting new people,” he shared. Having previously served as a School Resource Officer at a middle school, he discovered how meaningful the role could be and decided to continue that work at the high school level.
“The kids are great. The staff is awesome. They’ve made me feel welcome here,” he said. “Harrison County has always felt like home to me.”
More Than Security- Building Trust
While many people associate School Resource Officers primarily with safety enforcement, the role goes far beyond that.
“My main job is to provide protection for the children and the staff,” he explained. “But I also want the kids to trust me and know me.”
His daily routine includes patrolling hallways, checking building security, and maintaining a visible presence- but just as importantly, he spends time connecting with students.
He eats lunch with students, talks with them throughout the day, and works toward a personal goal of learning every student’s name by the end of the school year.
“If they have a problem, they can come to me inside or outside of school,” he said. “My main goal is the kids.”
Supporting Students Beyond Safety
This year, his focus is simple: accessibility and trust.
“I leave my door open so they know they can come in if they have a problem or just need a place to decompress,” he said. “Once they trust you, they know they can come talk to you.”
Creating that trust helps ensure students have another supportive adult available when they need guidance, reassurance, or simply someone to listen.
For parents and guardians, his message is clear and heartfelt:
“Their kids are safe with me. I will give my life to protect theirs without any hesitation.”
Connecting With the Community
Building relationships extends beyond the school building. He regularly attends local ballgames - sometimes working security, other times simply showing up to meet families and connect with parents.
“That’s usually when I get to meet parents,” he explained. “If a student is having problems, I want families to know we can work through whatever they’re going through together.”
A Big Heart Behind the Badge
While students may see the uniform first, there’s a softer side many may not expect.
“I’m a big softie when it comes to my granddaughter,” he shared with a smile, adding that another grandchild is expected this summer. “My kids are my life- but my grandbaby has my heart.”
As he continues to settle into his role at Harrison County High School, the focus remains on building relationships, creating trust, and being a consistent presence students and families can rely on.
Through daily conversations in the hallways, attending community events, and maintaining an open-door approach, he hopes students know they always have someone in their corner.
For the City of Cynthiana, the addition of a dedicated School Resource Officer reflects an ongoing commitment to partnership between schools, families, and local law enforcement- working together to support students and strengthen the community as a whole.