CITRUS COUNTY, Florida – Citrus County Schools and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office are proposing a new partnership aimed at strengthening school safety and improving coordination across all district campuses.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert and Sheriff David Vincent announced plans to recommend that the Citrus County School Board transition law enforcement responsibilities from the district’s police department to the Sheriff’s Office.
Under the proposal, the Sheriff’s Office would take over all law enforcement services for district schools, including oversight of the School Resource Officer program and campus safety initiatives.
Florida law requires each district to designate a School Safety Specialist to oversee safety personnel, policies, and procedures. As part of the proposed change, that role would also be contracted to the Sheriff’s Office.
School Guardians will continue to serve as a security force within schools, remaining employees of the district while working in coordination with both the school system and the Sheriff’s Office.
District leaders say the goal is to enhance safety by leveraging the broader resources of the Sheriff’s Office while maintaining a consistent law enforcement presence on campuses.
“Our number one priority will always be the safety of our students and staff,” Hebert said. “This partnership allows us to align our school safety efforts with the full resources of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office while continuing to ensure a strong law enforcement presence on every campus.”
Sheriff Vincent said the collaboration will improve efficiency and preparedness in a changing security environment.
“This partnership allows us to better navigate a constantly changing security environment with efficiency of services, coordinated training, and emergency responses across all of our public schools to ensure a safe learning environment,” Vincent said.
The proposal will be presented to the Citrus County School Board for consideration at its April 14 meeting. If approved, the transition will take place over the coming months with the goal of maintaining continuity and minimizing disruption for students, staff, and families.
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