Interim Chief of Schools Police Benjamin “Ben” McBride joined the Pinellas County Schools Police Department in April 2017. He retired from Clearwater Police Department after 31 years of service, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. Since 1989, he has been a Law Enforcement Instructor teaching law enforcement professionals in various disciplines, including Firearms, Less Lethal Weapons, Defensive Tactics, Officer Survival, Edged Weapons, and Active Shooter Response. McBride is a graduate of the 2009 Leadership of Pinellas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice.
Throughout his career, McBride worked in a variety of assignments, including Patrol, Community Policing, Field Training Officer, Criminal Investigation, Vice and Narcotics, Office of Professional Standards, and Personnel and Training. He served 20 years in the Clearwater Police Department S.W.A.T. team, and 15 years as S.W.A.T. Team Leader. McBride served as Clearwater Police Department Team Leader for the CISM of West Central Florida. Before his retirement from the department, he was assigned as a Patrol District Commander and Assistant Division Commander over the Criminal Investigation Division. In June 2025, he was appointed Interim Chief of Schools Police.
McBride is married and has three adult children and four grandkids. Since 2003, he has been a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas. In 2013, because of his dedicated work with one particular little brother, he was named School-Base Big Brother of the Year.
Back to Pinellas County Schools Police
