School Guardian Program

“It is a phenomenal working relationship because we train together, our tactics are the same, our procedures are the same... and if God forbid that worst day happens, we are in the best possible scenario to protect our students and our teachers.”

- Sheriff Nocco

Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program

Why the Guardian Program Was Created

The Marjory Stoneman and Douglas public safety commission found that having guardians in schools is the best way to ensure, highly trained personnel are in place to respond immediately in the event of a school shooting.

For additional information on the School Guardian training requirements, hiring requirements and additional information on the guardian program, please review Florida State Statute 30.15 by clicking Visit Florida Statute.

Academy Information

Per Statue 30.15, the 144-hour training requirements consist of the following:

Eighty (80) hours of firearms instruction based on the CJSTC Law Enforcement Academy training model
Sixteen (16) hours of instruction in precision pistol
Eight (8) hours of discretionary shooting
Sixteen (16) hours of instruction in active shooter or assailant scenarios
Eight (8) hours of instruction in defensive tactics
Four (4) hours of instruction in legal issues

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office sets a higher training requirement, so we provide training in the follow additional topics below. The total training hours provided by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office School Guardian Training Program total 172 (including lunch breaks).

Twelve (12) hours of instruction on certified nationally recognized diversity training
Eight (8) hours of instruction in Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) Taser
Three (3) hours of instruction in CPR
Three (3) hours of instruction in First Aid/ Tac-Med
Two (2) hours of instruction in radio communication
Four (4) hours of instruction in active threat planning
Two (2) hours of instruction on narcan procedures

Academy Location

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office School Guardian Program is proud to facilitate training for The Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program, established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This vital initiative aims to enhance school safety by providing comprehensive training to qualified individuals who serve as guardians in educational institutions.

Our training takes place at the state-of-the-art facilities of Pasco-Hernando State College’s East Campus in Dade City, Florida. This location offers an ideal environment for participants to receive high-quality instruction and hands-on experience.

Through the School Guardian Program, we work closely with the Pasco County School Safety department to ensure that our guardians receive the best possible preparation for their crucial role in protecting our students and staff. Our comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, legal instruction, and diversity training, all designed to produce highly skilled and responsible guardians.

By participating in this program, individuals contribute significantly to the safety and security of our schools, embodying the spirit of dedication and heroism displayed by Chris Hixon, Aaron Feis, and Scott Beigel, for whom this program is named.