Sarasota School District Seeks Candidates For School Police Force

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL – Sarasota County Schools is seeking a chief of police and three sergeants to form the command staff of a new, school-based police department.

These leaders will work directly with the district’s executive director of public safety to create a comprehensive, progressive police department for the district’s 53 schools, 43,000 students and 5,000 employees.

“The hiring of the police chief is instrumental to building an effective school police force and public safety department,” said Todd Bowden, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. “We are looking for just the right person to lead a team of men and women whose mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students on campus. We have a lot of work to do before the new school year, but I am confident the development of a school-based police force is the right choice for our school district.”

Per the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, all schools in Florida are required to have a school safety officer in every school. Since the law was authorized this spring, the district has partnered with local law enforcement to have officers and deputies in every school.

Starting this fall with the 2018-19 school year, the district intends to employ school-based police officers in each of its 23 elementary schools, with continued support from local law enforcement in its secondary schools.

The long-term goal is to employ school-based police officers in each district school, as well as detectives and other key personnel to support the security work of the district.

Candidates for chief of police and sergeant must possess successful leadership experience in the law enforcement profession, have integrity and exhibit high moral character in both their professional and personal lives.

“This is an opportunity to help create a new police department from the ground up that will become a national model of excellence,” said Bowden.

Those hired will receive a full benefits package, including 100 percent paid medical, dental and vision plans, life insurance and contributions into the Florida Retirement System.

The school district is comprised of the communities of Sarasota, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice, Englewood and North Port, and is one of only two Florida school districts to consistently earn an “A” grade since 2004.

Candidates interested in applying can do so on the school district’s website. Click to view the Chief of Police and Police Sergeant job descriptions and requirements.

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