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A Bristol Minute" for Wednesday, August 7: ▶️ Judge OKs Contura purchase of Blackjewel mines ▶️ VHCC unveils shuttle service ▶️ Sixth Street expansion causing problems for Downtown Bristol business owners Read more about these stories at: https://buff.ly/326pu45.

CEDAR BLUFF, Va. — One of the Tazewell police officers fired by the town following a complaint of racial profiling was recently hired as a school resource officer for the town of Cedar Bluff.

T.J. Crabtree, 35, was hired in late July by the Cedar Bluff Police Department as a school resource officer for Cedar Bluff Elementary School for the 2019-20 school year. Police Chief Mike Brown said he was aware of Crabtree’s dismissal in Tazewell and had “absolutely no problem” hiring him or assigning him to the position.

Brown said Crabtree met with Buffie Crabtree, the school’s principal, and she was also fine with the assignment. It is not known if the two are related. Attempts by The News & Press to speak with Crabtree and the school’s principal were not returned.

Cedar Bluff Police Department was awarded $45,430 in June to fund the new position at the elementary school.

Tazewell County School Board Chairman David Woodard said the school system has never gotten involved in the hiring of officers.

Depending on where the school is, either the sheriff or police chief assigns officers to the positions.