Despite the new law, there are no immediate plans to add guardians to law enforcement staffs at the University of West Florida or Pensacola State College, administrators at the schools say.
Both institutions have full-time police departments with sworn police officers on duty 24 hours a day.
On May 15, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 757 to expand the armed “school guardian” program to Florida’s colleges and universities. The law builds on changes made in the public-school system after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
DeSantis maintains the guardian program deters potential perpetrators and will make colleges and universities safer.
UWF spokeswoman Brittany Sherwood said the university will review and explore all options to keep students safe—but nothing has been decided at this time.
“The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors will always remain a top priority at the University of West Florida,” she said, noting the guardian program would be viewed as a potential supplemental safety measure and not a replacement for sworn law enforcement personnel.
“UWF continuously evaluates programs, partnerships and resources that may enhance the safety and security of our campus community. We appreciate the efforts of state leaders to strengthen campus safety across Florida.”
The UWF Police Department has nearly 20 sworn law enforcement officers, multiple civilian dispatchers and administrative personnel, with plans to add additional officers in the coming fiscal year, she said.
Pensacola State College is also considering the guardian program.
“Unlike some colleges, we have our own police department, so the guardian program does not apply to us,” explained PSC President Ed Meadows. “Safety and security are top priorities for Pensacola State College as evidenced by it being one of the few state colleges with its own police department. Only six or seven state colleges in Florida have their own police departments.”
The PSC Police Department’s staff patrols multiple campuses and centers in Pensacola, Warrington, Milton, Century and the Gulf Breeze-Navarre area.
PSC spokeswoman Sheila Nichols added the college is exploring the possibility of utilizing guardians to supplement its sworn law enforcement officers and non-sworn civilian personnel.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, was written in response to the 2025 Florida State University shooting in which two were killed and six were injured.
Participation in the guardian program is optional. Each school will decide if it wants to enroll certain employees in a training program to carry firearms on campus.
The legislation also creates new criminal penalties, including making it an offense to discharge a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
The guardian program permits specially trained individuals to carry firearms on school campuses to help prevent and respond to active shooter situations. Participants are required to complete extensive vetting and training through local sheriff’s offices, including psychological and drug screenings, along with a minimum of 144 hours of training.
Sherwood added that if UWF decided to participate in the program, guardians would support campus safety efforts through preventive security measures and emergency response capabilities consistent with state guidelines and university policies, while complementing existing law enforcement and emergency management operations.
James Call, a reporter with The USA TODAY Network Florida, contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF, PSC have no immediate plans to bring armed guardians on campus
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
