Protecting with Purpose: Deputy Dotson’s Role at Sale Creek
October 24, 2025 –
Whether he’s greeting students as they arrive, cheering at a game, or talking with students in the hallway, School Resource Deputy Marcus Dotson shows what it means to protect and care for a school community. He walks the halls, talking with students, checking in with teachers, and making sure everyone feels safe and supported.
Deputy Dotson has been serving with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years and has worked as a School Resource Deputy for 13 of those. “I’ve spent the majority of my career in school resource,” he said. “And I absolutely love it. There’s nothing else I would want to do.”
His path to working in schools started while he was on patrol. “My supervisor had been a school resource deputy before,” Dotson explained. “He told me, ‘You’d be really good at this.’ He said that I connected with kids, that I talked with them, hung out with them, and that with my love of sports, I’d fit right in at a school.”
Even though he enjoyed patrol, Dotson gave it a try and quickly realized how meaningful the work could be. “When I went to the school, I loved it,” he said. “I thought, this is going to be awesome.”
After several years at Central High School, Dotson spent time at Washington Alternative, where he worked closely with students who were getting a second chance at success. “It gave me an opportunity to mentor on a different level,” he said. “We helped kids who thought they would not graduate, and a lot of them did.”
When he arrived at Sale Creek, Dotson knew it would be a special place. “This school is unique because I have sixth graders all the way through high school,” he said. “These sixth graders come in from elementary, and they’re scared. So I tell my seventh and eighth graders to be leaders, to help them out and show them where to go. It’s really neat to see that happen.”
No two days are the same for Deputy Dotson, but each one is spent building connections and looking out for his students.
“In the mornings, I greet students as they arrive, talk with staff, and check in with students,” he said. “I’m not a deputy who sits in an office. I’m out walking the halls, the parking lot, or talking with kids.”
His relationships with students go far beyond school hours. Dotson often helps with sports and mentors students through athletics. “I help with cross country and baseball. I’m big into running and lifting weights, so the kids see me active all the time,” he said.
Balancing safety and connection is an important part of his job. “The kids know when I’m joking and when I’m serious,” Dotson said. “They know that when I have to interact with them as a law enforcement deputy, it’s nothing personal. I tell them, ‘We’ll get through it together.’”
Dotson works closely with teachers, administrators, and counselors to make sure students feel safe and supported. “We have an amazing staff here,” he said. “Everyone communicates and works together to keep our kids safe.”
For his outstanding service, Deputy Dotson was honored with the Margaret Chastain First Responder of the Year Award, one of the highest honors given by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. This award is given to a first responder who goes above and beyond in serving their community. Deputy Dotson was recognized for his leadership, compassion, and the positive relationships he has built with students and staff at Sale Creek.
For Dotson, the most rewarding part of his work is seeing students succeed. “The most rewarding thing is seeing kids smiling in the hallway,” he said. “I love seeing them set goals and achieve them, whether it’s scoring a touchdown, hitting a home run, or doing well in class.”
His message during School Safety Week is simple but powerful. “I want families, staff, and students to know that we have their safety at heart,” Dotson said. “That’s our number one goal. I want students to feel safe in the classroom so they can learn, and I want teachers to feel safe teaching. I want everyone to know that I’m here in this building to keep these kids safe, and I’m going to do that to the best of my ability every day.”
Thank you, Deputy Dotson, for your dedication to Sale Creek Middle High School. Your kindness, care, and commitment make a difference in the lives of students every day. 💙
