Safety & Emergency Preparedness
West Boca is a safe and family-friendly area, and we want to keep it that way. This section covers local law enforcement and fire services, as well as programs to help you stay prepared for emergencies large and small. By knowing what resources are available and taking a few proactive steps, we can all feel more secure in our community.
Our community is policed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), specifically District 7, which is dedicated to unincorporated West Boca Raton. The District 7 substation is located at 17901 US Highway 441, Boca Raton, FL 33498, near the intersection of U.S. 441 and Clint Moore Road. PBSO District 7 deputies handle 911 calls, routine patrols, and community policing for all the neighborhoods in West Boca (roughly from Clint Moore Rd south to the Broward County line).
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Emergency & Non-Emergency Contacts: For emergencies or crimes in progress, always dial 911. For non-emergencies, you can call PBSO District 7’s direct line at 561-995-2800. This might be used to report after-the-fact incidents or to ask for deputy assistance with non-urgent matters. You can also call the countywide PBSO non-emergency line at 561-688-3400. The District 7 station’s front office is generally open Monday through Friday during business hours if you need to speak with a deputy or District staff in person (for example, to obtain a police report or discuss a community concern).
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PBSO Services: Our local PBSO deputies don’t just respond to calls – they are also involved in community policing programs. West Boca neighborhoods often coordinate with PBSO for Neighborhood Watch groups, where residents and deputies collaborate to deter crime. PBSO can provide home security assessments on request, and they run the Vacation Watch program (you can notify PBSO when you’ll be away, and deputies will do extra drive-by checks of your home). We encourage residents to follow PBSO’s safety tips, such as always locking car doors (to prevent vehicle break-ins, which are a common crime of opportunity) and reporting any suspicious activity promptly. Remember, “If you see something, say something.” The Sheriff’s Office also maintains an online crime mapping tool and a PBSO mobile app where you can see recent incidents and receive alerts.
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Community Connection: The PBSO District 7 Community Policing Unit often attends our West Boca Community Council meetings to give crime updates and hear concerns. This partnership has led to improvements like targeted traffic enforcement on problem streets and increased presence in areas where residents raised issues. The WBCC also shares PBSO announcements (for example, crime trend alerts or scam warnings) on our website and social media. By staying informed and working together with law enforcement, West Boca remains one of the safer areas in South Florida.
Always call 911 for urgent matters. Don’t hesitate – if something or someone makes you feel unsafe or you witness a potential crime, let the Sheriff’s Office determine the appropriate response. For anonymous reporting (e.g., to report drug activity or graffiti), you can use Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 1-800-458-TIPS.
Fire protection and emergency medical services in West Boca are provided by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR). We are served by several PBCFR stations strategically located to cover our area – including stations on Glades Road, Yamato Road, and within Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park. These stations are staffed 24/7 with highly trained firefighters/paramedics ready to respond to fires, medical emergencies, traffic accidents, and more.
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS): In any medical emergency or serious injury situation, call 911 immediately. PBC Fire Rescue paramedics will be dispatched to provide on-scene advanced life support and ambulance transport. West Boca is fortunate to have West Boca Medical Center nearby (on 441 south of Palmetto Park Rd) as the closest hospital, but paramedics will transport patients to the most appropriate hospital for the situation (trauma cases often go to Delray Medical or St. Mary’s). All firefighters in our area are dual-trained as paramedics or EMTs, so every fire engine is effectively an ambulance as well, carrying medical equipment and medications.
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Fire Emergencies: Our local PBCFR stations respond to any fire 911 calls – whether it’s a house fire, a brush fire, or even a car fire. Quick response times are critical in preventing small fires from becoming big ones. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and develop a family fire escape plan. If you ever smell smoke or see flames, get everyone out and call 911 from a safe location. PBCFR also handles hazardous materials incidents, water rescues, and high-angle rescues in the region if needed.
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Community Outreach: Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is proactive about fire prevention and safety education. Each October during Fire Prevention Week, firefighters visit local schools and community events to share safety tips (like the importance of smoke alarms and having an escape route). They also offer programs like free smoke alarm installation for those in need, fire extinguisher training for community groups, and child car seat installation checks by certified inspectors. If you’re interested in any of these services, you can contact PBCFR’s community education office or ask during one of our WBCC meetings – we often have Fire Rescue representatives present who can connect you with the right program.
Did You Know? Having working smoke alarms in your home cuts the risk of dying in a fire by 50%, yet three out of five home fire fatalities occur in homes with no working smoke alarm. Check your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. PBCFR recommends replacing the entire alarm unit every 10 years as the sensors wear out. This simple step saves lives – as firefighters say, “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives.”
When serious emergencies or hazards affect our area, Palm Beach County’s AlertPBC system will keep you informed. AlertPBC is the official Emergency Notification System for Palm Beach County. By opting in, you can receive urgent notifications about events that may impact West Boca – such as severe weather warnings, hurricane evacuations, boil-water notices, missing persons alerts, or other public safety threats.
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How it Works: When authorities issue an alert for our area, AlertPBC will send a voice call, text message, email, or app notification (depending on your preference) to let you know what’s happening and what to do. You can choose which types of alerts you want and for which locations – for example, you might set it to notify you about emergencies near your home, your workplace, and your children’s schools. If an alert requires action (like an evacuation order), you can confirm you received it, and the system won’t keep trying to contact you on other channels.
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Sign Up: Every West Boca resident is strongly encouraged to sign up for AlertPBC. It’s free, and it could save lives by providing timely information. You won’t automatically be enrolled – you must register because the system needs your contact information and location interests. It only takes a few minutes to register for AlertPBC online. (You can also find the sign-up link on the county’s Division of Emergency Management website or via the PBC DART smartphone app.) All information you provide is kept confidential and used only for emergency alerts.
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Types of Alerts: AlertPBC covers a wide range of critical notifications. Weather-related alerts are common – for instance, you’ll get a tornado warning immediately if one is issued for our area, or notifications about approaching hurricanes. Public safety alerts might include mandatory evacuation orders, shelter-in-place orders, or hazardous materials incidents. You may also get Amber Alerts or law enforcement bulletins if they are geo-targeted to our vicinity. The system is highly customizable, so you can opt in to additional notices (like general community notifications or significant traffic disruptions) if you wish.
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By staying plugged in through AlertPBC, you’ll never be caught off-guard when something important is happening. It’s one of the best tools we have to ensure the safety of you and your family during emergencies. (Bonus: Palm Beach County often tests the AlertPBC system yearly – typically at the start of hurricane season – so don’t be alarmed if you get a test message around May or June just to verify the system is working.)