Field Operations

The District is mandated to have a minimum of one (1) officer per campus while instruction is occurring. The SSO’s are responsible for all basic law enforcement services on their assigned campuses.

SSO’s also provide law enforcement services after classes have been dismissed for the day. SSO’s are in operation county wide for any law enforcement matters reported which may have occurred during the school day, but are reported after hours. SSO’s staff Adult Education programs and extracurricular events held on campuses.

Detectives assigned to CID are responsible for conducting in depth investigations which occur within School Police’s jurisdiction. These investigations can include but are not limited to crimes against persons, crimes against property, missing persons and social media threat cases.

Youth Court is the Department’s Diversion program for first time offenders. If the offender meets certain criteria, they are eligible to participate in the program. Officers in Youth Court arbitrate the offense with the student and parent, establish sanctions and work with the student to successfully complete the program. If student successfully completes the program, the criminal charges are diverted and the charge does not appear on the student’s arrest record.

The Field Operations Bureau also has a variety of specialty units which include:

• K9 Unit which is comprised of article search dogs and therapy dogs.
• Emergency Field Force (EFF)
• Emergency Services Unit (ESU)
• Honor Guard

The Evidence Unit is part of CID and is responsible for maintaining all evidence and property recovered by SSO’s. Citizens who need to make appointments to recover evidence should call 561-969-5871 or email schoolpoliceevidence@palmbeachschools.org. The Evidence Unit will need a case number to review the case and make an appointment. Case numbers can be obtained from the School Police
Records Unit.

(Click Here) For the School Police Found Property List

FOUND / UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
Pursuant to sections 705.103 and 705.105, Florida statutes, the Palm Beach County School District Police Department shall dispose of found and unclaimed property and evidence which does not have an identifiable owner and has been retained in excess of ninety days.

It is the intention of the Palm Beach County School District Police Department to dispose of the property in one or more of the following manners:

1. If of no value, destroy the property
    
2. Surrender the property to the finder
    
3. Retain the property for the agency’s own use
    
4. Transfer the property to another governmental unit
    
5. Donate the property to a charitable organization
    
6. Sell the property by competitive bid at public sale