ERWIN, Tenn. (AP/WVLT) -- A sheriff and a police chief in East Tennessee say they are working together to ensure all county schools will have a trained officer when classes resume in January.

The Johnson City Press reports Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley and Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson made the announcement Friday, saying they wanted to assure student safety after the massacre on Dec. 14 at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

The initiative expands the number of officers assigned to schools -- there was already one each at the middle and high schools.

Tilson's office will provide officers to schools in the city; Hensley's office will provide them at others.

Both said the extra officers would be present at least through the end of the school year, and longer if funding allows.