Florida Sheriffs Break Ground on New Youth Learning Center
TALLAHASSEE, FL (July 11, 2025) – Today, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center, a new facility that will honor the long-standing history of the Office of Sheriff in Florida while inspiring future generations to serve their communities through careers in public safety.
Located on the FSA campus in Tallahassee, the Youth Learning Center will preserve the rich, more-than-200-year history of the Florida sheriffs and serve as a hub for children to learn about law enforcement through immersive and engaging educational experiences. Through interactive displays, videos, and hands-on activities, the center will introduce students to careers such as a law enforcement officer, correctional deputy, dispatcher, or civilian roles within a sheriff’s office.
“This center is a meaningful investment in the future of our state and our profession,” said Matt Dunagan, Executive Director of the Florida Sheriffs Association. “By educating young people about the role of sheriffs and the many ways they can serve their community, we’re preserving the values that make our profession honorable.”
The idea for the center was brought to life through the leadership of the FSA Building Committee, which has worked closely with architects, subject matter experts, and law enforcement professionals to develop a space that is both educational and inspirational.
“As sheriffs, we are responsible not just for protecting our communities today, but for inspiring those who will protect them tomorrow,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Chair of the FSA Building Committee. “The Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center will give children a first-hand look at what it means to serve with honor and integrity, and I’m proud to be part of this historic effort.”
The Youth Learning Center represents a major milestone in the Florida Sheriffs Association’s commitment to youth engagement, public safety education, and law enforcement recruitment. The project is the result of a collaborative vision from FSA leadership, sheriffs across the state, and supporters of law enforcement.
“Our goal is to build a legacy that honors the past and prepares our youth for the future,” said FSA President and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell. “The Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center will give students a hands-on experience that sparks interest in public safety careers and reinforces the importance of service, leadership, and community.”
The groundbreaking ceremony included sheriffs from across Florida, community and state leaders, and partners to celebrate the official start of construction.
Below are a few of the features this center will contain:
- Once completed, the two-story building will be more than 22,000 square feet.
- The theater room will have 67 seats, each seat representing a county sheriff’s office in Florida.
- After exiting our theater room, guests will move to the main floor where they will be exposed to numerous interactive displays that highlight the more than 200-year history of the Office of Sheriff.
- The remainder of the first floor will be a 2,500 square foot space for young people to see, hear, and feel all aspects of working in a sheriff’s office. From road patrol, corrections, dispatching emergency calls to crime scene investigations – the first-floor sheriff experience will have it all to inspire the next generation of public safety leaders.
- The second floor of the center will have a 2,100 square foot library to preserve more than 70 years of sheriff’s office publications, books, and news articles as well as display statewide historical artifacts from sheriffs’ offices.
- The second floor of the learning center will also house critical elements for our expanding Florida Sheriffs Explorers’ Post to use when they visit so that they can continue to work towards a successful and productive career.
For more information about the Florida Sheriffs Youth Learning Center or to learn how you can support this project, visit www.flsheriffs.org/youth.Go to http://www.flsheriffs.org/youth