Did the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office use students for active shooter drills at Pine View?

Students participated in active shooting drills at Pine View School this week.

Roughly a dozen students participated in the drills, which took place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 15 and 16, a Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said. 

The agency recruited teen members of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program, which allows young people to assist with agency activities as part of a community service and career development initiative. Pine View students also were invited to participate in the drill. 

The exercises were conducted in partnership with Pine View School and are part of the agency’s routine active shooter preparedness efforts. The Sheriff’s Office regularly holds such drills to train law-enforcement officers and improve agency response. 

Florida is among 40 states that require active shooter drills, as of 2024.