Former Sanford school resource officer appears on misconduct charges

Pedro Enrique Da Silva, a former Sanford police officer who served as a school resource officer at Seminole High School, made an initial court appearance after his arrest on Jan. 14, 2026. Investigators say the probe began in December when a fellow officer reported concerns, and authorities allege Da Silva had inappropriate communications with a 17-year-old student between October and Dec. 17, 2025.

Da Silva faces multiple felony counts, including written solicitation of a minor, sexual offense by an authority figure and distribution of obscene materials. A judge set bond with strict conditions that include a prohibition on contact with minors except his young child and GPS monitoring. His arraignment is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The allegations strike at the core of Seminole County’s school safety arrangements. School resource officers are positioned to protect students and act as liaisons between law enforcement and educators; accusations that an officer abused that role undermine trust between families, school staff and law enforcement. Seminole County Public Schools and the Sanford Police Department urged anyone with information to contact investigators as the criminal case and any parallel administrative reviews proceed.

The timeline investigators have laid out poses questions for local policymakers and school officials about safeguards for students and supervision of sworn personnel assigned to campuses. The report that the internal concern was raised by a fellow officer in December highlights the role of reporting channels and peer accountability inside law enforcement agencies. For parents and school staff the immediate concerns are concrete: ensuring the affected student and others receive appropriate support, confirming there are no outstanding risks on campus and reviewing how SRO assignments are monitored.

At the institutional level the case will likely prompt scrutiny of Seminole County’s policies on SRO training, background checks and incident reporting. Elected school board members are responsible for oversight of district safety policies, and local voters may look to upcoming board agendas and meetings for updates and potential policy changes that strengthen protections for minors.

For residents, the next steps are clear: follow official updates from Sanford Police and Seminole County Public Schools, and bring any information to investigators as requested. The criminal process will unfold in state court, and the March 3 arraignment will be the next public milestone. How school and law enforcement leaders respond in policy and practice will determine whether community confidence in campus safety is restored.