Charlotte County Public Schools Adds School Security Officers

CHARLOTTE COUNTY – The Charlotte County School Board approved the recommendation to use contracted school security officers at each of the division’s elementary schools during the upcoming school year. Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office deputies will continue to serve as school resource officers at Central Middle School and Randolph-Henry High School while Bacon District Elementary, Eureka Elementary, and Phenix Elementary will utilize contracted school security officers. These security officers will be armed and present throughout the school day at each school. In the past, the school division has had one elementary school resource officer who has rotated between all three elementary schools. He will be retiring soon and there are currently not enough deputies to fill positions at all three elementary schools. 

The contracted security officers that will be serving in CCPS elementary schools are employed by ICS Security Services which has a long reputation for providing excellent security for schools and other organizations. The security officers provided by ICS are former law enforcement and military personnel or other high-level security professionals. 

Superintendent Robbie Mason commented, “Our school resource officer program is working well. We have enjoyed a positive working relationship with the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office for decades and we intend to continue that relationship. It is my opinion, and the opinion of our School Board, that we need armed security in each of our schools. Because there are currently not enough county deputies to fill our school security needs at the elementary level, we will utilize contracted school security officers this year to help keep our elementary students and staff safe. CMS and R-HHS will still have school resource officers employed by the Sherriff’s Office in place daily. ICS will also assist CCPS and the Sheriff’s Office in conducting school safety drills throughout the school year. The presence of armed security in each of our schools is an important safety measure for CCPS.”

The security officer who will be assigned to your child’s school will be present at their respective school’s elementary open house on Thursday, August 4. You are encouraged to attend your child’s open house and meet this new addition to your child’s school.