Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight during two ceremonies inducted 12 deputies and presented certificates to 11 school guardians who volunteered to provide security on their campuses for the upcoming school year. These deputies will staff varying elementary and charter school campuses. They are sworn law enforcement members whose sole responsibility is campus security. Also recognized were the 11 school guardians who voluntarily took part in a 144-hour course offered by the sheriff’s office. The course included firearms training, crisis intervention training and active shooter scenarios. These men and women are school employees who work in non-instructional capacities. Combining the agency’s existing school resource program, new school safety deputies, volunteer guardians and deputies taken from other parts of the agency, the sheriff’s office declares that 28 campuses in unincorporated Sarasota County will be protected by the first day of school on Monday, August 13.

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office