Resource Officer Unit

Our School and College Resource Officers' mission is to provide for and maintain a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment for students and staff. Our officers work to promote positive attitudes towards law enforcement by interacting with students and staff.

The Lakeland Police Department Resource Officer Unit (ROU) is comprised of 3 sergeants and 22 resource officers. Our officers are in school’s full-time providing law enforcement services along with serving as mentors, counselors, and role models. They continuously work on building trust between law enforcement and their schools along with friendship building but most importantly keeping the students safe. The ROU services Florida Southern College, Lakeland Christian School, Magnolia Montessori School, three high schools, four middle schools, and two K-8 schools. The ROU works closely with the eight elementary schools within the City of Lakeland. The elementary schools are staffed full time by School Safety Guardians through Polk County Public Schools. 

The entire ROU is trained in Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) and Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). These trainings ensure that the student is priority #1 in order to classify threats with accuracy and to ensure the students get the help they need. The ROU officers are also members of the Florida Association of School Resource Officers (FASRO). FASRO is the largest school resource organization in the nation.

Sergeant Sean Finney
sean.finney@lakelandgov.net

Sergeant Justin Conatser
justin.conatser@lakelandgov.net

Sergeant Chawn Hall
chawn.hall@lakelandgov.net