St. Petersburg College Launched Police Department

The institution established its own force to improve campus safety and response times for students.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a simplified geometric academic tower facade, evoking institutional safety and governance. — St. Petersburg College has launched its own proprietary police department to improve safety and response times for students across its campus facilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust an internal college police department to effectively manage campus safety?

St. Petersburg College has officially launched a proprietary police department to handle investigations and arrests on campus. The new unit, which holds access to federal and state criminal justice databases, intends to bolster safety through community-oriented policing.

Why it matters

The creation of an internal police force is designed to decrease response times for campus incidents. By establishing this department, the college seeks to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the student body.

The college police force was officially launched on October 1, 2026, granting officers the authority to investigate crimes and perform arrests. The department is currently building out its full staffing capacity over the next few months.

The players

Andrew MacPherson

He serves as the chief of police and associate vice president of safety, security and emergency management for the college.

Tracy Smith

She took the oath of office as part of the leadership team for the newly formed police department.

St. Petersburg College

This educational institution in St. Petersburg has created an independent police department to manage campus security.

The details

Andrew MacPherson has been appointed to lead the agency while also serving as the associate vice president of safety, security and emergency management. The college spent the past year developing the necessary infrastructure and securing agency partnerships to ensure the force is fully operational.

Andrew MacPherson began working at the college in 2024.
The college developed the infrastructure and partnerships over the past year.
The St. Petersburg College police force officially launched on October 1, 2026.
The college will continue hiring and expanding services over the next few months.

Legal Context

The launch of the St. Petersburg College police force follows a documented trend of Florida universities and colleges moving toward independent law enforcement agencies to manage campus safety. This shift reflects broader efforts by higher education institutions to maintain direct control over public safety and investigative protocols.

Students and faculty should expect an increased presence of certified police officers on campus as the department continues its phased hiring process. These officers now possess the legal authority to conduct investigations and arrests, bringing a new layer of security to the local community.

The takeaway

The implementation of an internal police force highlights a strategic move to localize security oversight within the college environment. Readers should stay informed about campus safety policies as the college expands the agency's services throughout the coming months.