SANFORD, FL – A Sanford Police officer assigned to protect students at Seminole High School has been fired and arrested following an investigation into “vile and disgusting” behavior with a minor.
Pedro Enrique Da Silva was taken into custody on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, after investigators determined he had used his position of authority to groom and sexually solicit a 17-year-old female student.
The Investigation
The case began on December 17, 2025, when a fellow Sanford Police officer reported concerns regarding Da Silva’s interactions with a student. Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith took immediate action, terminating Da Silva’s employment that same day.
The subsequent investigation, supported by the Seminole County School Board and surveillance footage, revealed a pattern of misconduct spanning from October to mid-December 2025:
- Inappropriate Communication: Da Silva engaged in numerous “inappropriate interactions” with the victim while on duty as a School Resource Officer (SRO).
- Explicit Material: In one documented instance, Da Silva made a lewd verbal statement to the 17-year-old before showing her several explicit photographs of himself on his phone.
Criminal Charges
Da Silva was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on Wednesday. He faces the following felony charges:
- Written Solicitation of a Minor to Commit a Lewd Act
- Sexual Offense by an Authority Figure (Solicitation/Sexual Conduct with a Student)
- Showing Obscene Material to a Minor
Official Reactions
Chief Cecil Smith did not mince words regarding the arrest of his former officer, calling him a “predator” and the “worst type of criminal.”
“His duty was to protect the children on that campus, and instead he acted as a predator, using his position to manipulate and attempt to groom a 17-year-old child,” Chief Smith stated. “How sickening is his conduct?”
Superintendent Serita D. Beamon of Seminole County Public Schools added that the district is thankful for the “quick and decisive action” taken to remove Da Silva from the campus.
Background and Public Plea
Da Silva had been with the Sanford Police Department since June 2024 and had served as the SRO at Seminole High School since July 2025.
Authorities are concerned there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
- Sanford Police Department: (407) 330-5600
- Crimeline (Anonymous): 800-423-TIPS (8477)
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