Threat Assessment Unit

The mission of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Threat Assessment Unit is to improve the quality of life in our county by reducing fear and preventing crime.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Threat Assessment Unit (TAU) establishes and cultivates programs proven to reduce crime through the education and heightened awareness of our citizens. The TAU consists of deputies and volunteers professionally trained and/or certified in a variety of skills. Their hands-on approach promotes community relations and interaction through proactive policing techniques. Deputies identify areas needing improvement, attend community meetings, and conduct special events to foster and increase community involvement. We strive to encourage each citizen of our county to get involved and become part of the solution. Please explore our webpage to learn more about the proactive approach the Threat Assessment Unit takes and how you can take action in the fight against crime.

The Threat Assessment Unit provides security risk assessments that identify, assess, and recommend key security improvements and resources to minimize risk. These security risk assessments are provided to nonprofits and houses of worship to reduce crime risk and to provide a list of security improvements and considerations. Active Shooter recommendations are part of the Security Risk Assessment, as this is a significant motivator for the requests for these assessments. These assessments are extremely time-consuming and are on a case-by-case basis. They are only offered to nonprofits and Houses of Worship as numerous public sector companies are available to for-profit organizations. All requests will require funding already in place for the improvements and/or grant funding. The TAU does not provide any assessments for Multi-Family Housing HB 837.

For more information about the programs and services we offer, please browse our site.  If you have any questions you can contact the Threat Assessment Unit at 561-688-4853 or email us at TAU@pbso.org. This phone line is not monitored and not intended to report ongoing incidents.

If you have an emergency please dial 911.

Home

Lock all doors and windows

Turn on lights and a radio or TV to give the appearance that someone is home

Have your mail and newspapers picked up each day if you are unable or are away

Children

Keep your children close to you

Teach your child to go to a responsible adult if separated

Teach your child his or her name, address and phone number to assist law enforcement if separated

Accompany your child to the restroom; don’t let him/her go alone

Shopping

Dress casually and comfortably

Avoid wearing expensive jewelry

Always carry your driver’s license or identification card

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash

Use credit cards and/or checks if available

Don’t overload yourself with packages

Shop in groups, there is always safety in numbers

Vehicle

Park you vehicle in a well-lighted area

Lock your vehicle doors

Store valuables in the trunk or out of sight of plain view

Be aware of your surroundings, making note of suspicious persons; report those suspicions to law enforcement

Ask for assistance from security, if available, to escort you to your vehicle