The School District of Palm Beach County has a new leader for its police force.

Sarah Mooney, who previously served as the chief of the West Palm Beach Police Department, was sworn in Wednesday afternoon and will begin overseeing a force of nearly 250 officers who patrol Palm Beach County schools.

She comes to the district job after 27 years in West Palm Beach, where she rose through the ranks to become chief after joining in 1995.

Mooney says her first challenge is to fill dozens of open positions which are currently being filled by officers from other agencies.

A native of Palm Beach County, Mooney holds a degree in social word from Florida State University.

Palm Beach County schools count over 200,000 staff and students among their ranks.