Officer Barbara Baugher is the longest serving officer in the department. She joined the department in 1989 and has been a K-9 Officer for more than 25 years. For over 20 years, Barbara has taught firearms instruction and other high-liability topics for the department and Southeastern Public Safety Institute at St. Petersburg College.
Barbara has extensive training and education in drug awareness, crime prevention and topics affecting juveniles. Officer Baugher and her canine partners have worked hard in drug and violence prevention and intervention and have won many awards and honors for their commitment and dedicated efforts.
Barbara graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. She has received training and certification as a Firearms Instructor, F.A.T.S. Instructor, an Israeli Instinctive Shooting Instructor, a Field Training Officer/Supervisor, a Certified K-9 Instructor, a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Instructor, a Certified School Resource Officer, a St. Petersburg College Criminal Justice Institute Instructor for the Police Academy, a U.S. Customs officer, and a Cultural Diversity Instructor. She has also received training and certification in Managing a Small Police Department from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and at least 40 other areas, with a special focus on juvenile topics and narcotics/drugs investigations.
Her affiliations and memberships include the Florida Crime Prevention Association; Suncoast Crime Prevention Association (previously serving on the Board of Directors); United States Police Canine Association; North American Police Work Dog Association; Blue Knights Motorcycle Club, Police Benevolent Association (formerly serving on the Board of Directors); Florida Association of School Resource Officers; and International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, Inc.
Barbara has presented programs, seminars and workshops for the Crisis Prevention & Preparedness Comprehensive School Safety Planning, Florida Crime Prevention Association Annual Training Conference, Florida Association of School Resource Officer statewide conference, National Black on Black Crime Prevention statewide conference, Attorney Generals Office, Juvenile Welfare Board Drug Update Seminar, Pinellas County Urban League, American Society for Industrial Security (Florida West Coast Chapter), local civic organizations, Florida Department of Labor, Drug Awareness Seminar, September 2019 in San Salvador, El Salvador for the Center for Public Safety Innovation, and St. Petersburg College.
Barbara is married to James Baugher, a retired St. Petersburg Beach Police officer. Barbara and Jim have four beautiful daughters. Off duty, Barbara enjoys spending time with her family and her police dog, which lives with her family.
