Deputy Zetasha Locke-Thompson is a friendly face and a safe presence at Seven Oaks Elementary, where she’s better known by a name that brings smiles every day: Deputy Z.
As students return to school for a new year of learning and growth, they are also welcomed back by the same trusted presence in the hallway, offering high fives, hugs, fist bumps and the occasional “Stephanie Z” from a kindergartener who has not quite mastered her real title. She would not have it any other way.
Deputy Z has served as a School Resource Officer with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department for the past three years. She came to LCSD with previous law enforcement experience and always knew this career path was her calling, thanks to her father, a longtime police officer in Philadelphia.
“I remember going to his graduation when I was about 8 years old,” she said. “The white gloves, the uniform, the pride, it made a lasting impression. I knew then that I wanted to do this job.”
That childhood inspiration set her on the path to law enforcement, but it was the school hallways, not the squad car, that revealed her true passion: connection.
“The best part of being an SRO? The kids. Hands down,” she said. “When they see me and their faces light up, when they know I remember their name or their birthday. It builds real trust. That trust matters.”
Trust built over time has helped her navigate tough moments too. She recalled a difficult situation between two young students that required thoughtful conversations with families.
“Because I had already built those relationships, with the kids and the parents, we were able to handle it with compassion and peace,” she said. “They knew I was not just there as law enforcement. They knew I cared.”
As a new school year begins, Deputy Z continues to answer questions from curious students about her gear, calmly explaining her role in ways they can understand.
“When a kid points at my gear and asks, ‘What’s that?’ I explain it in ways they understand. I tell them, ‘I’m here to keep you safe. You do not need to worry about the bad guys, that’s my job.’”
That message brings comfort to many students, especially those who face challenges at home. For some, she becomes more than a school resource officer.
“For some kids, I’m their safe person,” she said. “There’s one little girl who’s being raised by her grandmother. When she’s having a tough day, she tells her teacher, ‘I want Deputy Z.’ I am not there as a cop in those moments. I’m just there as someone who loves her.”
Moments like that make the job especially meaningful. As she watches her students grow, Deputy Z is already preparing herself for emotional farewells years down the road.
“I started with them in pre-K. They’ll be in first grade this year,” she said. “God willing, I’ll be with them until fifth grade. They’re my babies.”
Deputy Z is also a mother and finds joy in the fact that her daughter sees her as a role model.
“She thinks it’s so cool when she visits me at school and the kids know her name too,” she said. “I’m grateful for a supportive family and an incredibly supportive community.”
As the hallways fill with students once again, Deputy Z is ready: smiling, listening, protecting and connecting.
When asked what she would say to someone thinking about joining the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department as an SRO, she did not hesitate.
“Do it. It’s the most rewarding part of my career. If you have a heart for kids, this is where you’re meant to be.”
Deputy Z takes great pride in the badge she wears, but even more so in the relationships she builds and the lives she impacts every day in Lexington County.
Interested in joining the LCSD team and making a difference as we head into a new school year? We’d love to connect with you. Visit our website to learn more about open positions with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.