Pinellas County Schools Police Department

If your child was arrested by an officer with the Pinellas County Schools Police Department or a School Resource Officer (SRO), then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss fighting the case in juvenile court.

The Pinellas County Schools Police Department (PCSPD) provides law enforcement services to the Pinellas County School District. Under the leadership of the current Chief of Schools Police, Richard J. “Rick” Stelljes, the Department uses SROs who provide services to students, their families, school administrators, teachers, and staff to ensure a safe learning environment throughout the district.

The PCSPD motto is “We are all about the kids.” Employees of the police department for the Pinellas County Schools include staff assistants, dispatchers in the communications center, the Intrusion Systems Specialist for alarm monitoring and clerks in the Jessica Lunsford Act Office.

Attorneys for School Police Investigations in Pinellas County

The attorneys at Morris Law Firm, P.A. are experienced in representing students arrested by officers with the Pinellas County Schools Police Department. Not only do we represent the student in juvenile court, but we can also represent the student in an expulsion or change of placement hearing in front of the school board.

Our experienced juvenile defense attorneys in St. Petersburg, FL, can help you understand the procedures used by School Resource Officers and the Pinellas County Schools Police Department. We represent juveniles charged with a wide variety of delinquent acts including under age 21 possession of alcohol, drug possession, trespass, sexually motivated crimes on a younger child and criminal mischief.

Call our us today at (727) 592-5885.

Information about the Police Department for the Pinellas County Schools

The Pinellas County Schools Police Department also contracts for police service with local police agencies and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The PCSPD trains officers and deputies to become SROs (school resource officers) or SRDs (school resource deputies).

According to the Police Applicant Screening Service (PASS) Salary Survey, the 2017 salary ranges for the Pinellas County Schools Police is a minimum of $39,927 and a maximum of $59,003 for an officer.

The Pinellas County Schools Police Department generally handles all calls for service at elementary schools and fundamental schools except for Tarpons Springs Elementary, Tarpons Springs Fundamental School, and Sunset Hills Elementary School which are served by the Tarpon Springs Police Department under a community policing grant.

The South County Supervisor manages everything south of Bryan Dairy Road South. The North County Supervisor manages everything from Bryan Dairy Road North plus Sonitrol, Jessica Lunsford and Badge Pass Visitor Management.

Arrest of a Student by the School Resource Officer (SRO)

When a child is accused of committing a crime at school, a School Resource Officer (SRO) will often investigate the crime. The SRO will call the parents to come to the school so that an interrogation can be conducted in some cases.

In many of these cases, the parent will first learn about the criminal accusation from the school. When a crime occurs at school, the offense is often investigated by a School Resource Officer or SRO. The SRO is often a witness in a criminal case being prosecuted in juvenile court.

Florida Statute §1006.12(2)(d), Florida Statutes, gives a district school board the authority to enter into mutual aid agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies. In Pinellas County, any participating jurisdiction which has a contract with the School Board of Pinellas County to provide School Resource Officers (“SRO”) to schools within such jurisdiction may permit its SRO to accompany a school group, organization, or team to an authorized extracurricular function, event or activity held at another Pinellas school campus or leased venue, at the request of the Board or the principal of the school assigned to the SRO.

Many of the law enforcement agencies in Pinellas County work closely with the school resource officers. The SRO has the same law enforcement authority as though on his or her home campus. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the mutual aid agreement, compensation for these services will be as outlined in the contract between the Board and the participating jurisdiction.

Additional Resources

Pinellas County Schools Police Department – Visit the website of the Pinellas County School Board to find information about the Pinellas County Schools Police Department.

Pinellas County Schools Police Department

301 4TH ST. SW

LARGO, FL 33770

Schools Police Main Number 727-547-7221

Chief of Police Rick Stelljes – 727-547-7221