Sheriff Tony: Protecting our Students, Empowering our Youth

At the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), school safety is not just a responsibility—it’s our mission.

Every student deserves to feel secure in their classroom, and every parent deserves peace of mind that comes from knowing their child is protected.

We are proud to work in partnership with educators, families and students to create safe, supportive and inclusive learning environments. Our highly trained School Resource Officers (SROs) are at the heart of this effort. These dedicated deputies are not only equipped to respond to the most serious safety threats, but they are also trusted mentors who build positive relationships with the students they serve.

BSO’s SROs undergo rigorous training in tactical response and active assailant scenarios, but their expertise goes beyond law enforcement. They are skilled in behavioral threat assessment, de-escalation techniques and youth mental health awareness, enabling them to respond to crises with professionalism and compassion.

As we are committed to being both a presence on campus and a partner in education, prevention and care, our approach to school safety is proactive. In addition to their specialized training, our SROs work closely with school administrators and mental health professionals as part of Broward County Public Schools’ Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) team. Together, they identify early warning signs, intervene before situations escalate, and connect students with the resources and support they need while helping safeguard the entire school community.

At BSO, the safety and well-being of our children will always be our highest priority.

But our investment in youth doesn’t stop at school security. BSO proudly offers a variety of programs that empower young people to grow as leaders and explore careers in public safety:

• The Law Enforcement Explorer Program introduces youth ages 14–20 to the world of policing through hands-on experiences in patrol procedures, self-defense, community engagement and more.
• The Fire Rescue Cadet Program trains future lifesavers ages 14–17 with real-world skills in emergency response, fire suppression, CPR and hazardous material mitigation.
• L.E.A.D. Camp (Learning, Educating, and Developing) offers teens aged 13–17 a summer of leadership development, mentorship, and character-building activities that foster smart decision-making and self-confidence.

These programs build discipline, teamwork and leadership, preparing today’s youth to become tomorrow’s heroes.

As a new school year begins, BSO remains steadfast in our commitment to protect, mentor and uplift Broward County’s students. Together, we can create schools where every child feels safe, supported and empowered to succeed.

Learn more about how we’re investing in youth and school safety at sheriff.org.

Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony

Service Equals Reward

Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony

Service Equals Reward

Certain Broward cities like Coconut Creek, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, Plantation, Davie, Margate, Miramar, Lauderhill, Lighthouse Point, and Coral Springs maintain their police departments; however, BSO does provide communications and dispatch services to the following cities: Central Broward, Cooper City, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l Airport, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, West Park, Pompano Beach, Port Everglades, Tamarac, Weston, and unincorporated West Broward.