U.S. Senator Praises HISD Police Department, Calls It a Model for Other Districts
HISD has the only accredited school police department in the nation
October 24, 2011
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) praised the HISD Police Department for taking proactive steps to protect students, staff, and district visitors. “I am here to say ‘Well done,’ to not only the Houston Independent School District, but also to their police department,” Senator Cornyn said. “I think this is a great example that can be implemented across, not only Texas, but across the rest of the country.”
Senator Cornyn made the comments after a discussion with Superintendent Terry Grier, Board of Education Trustee Michael Lunceford, Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla, and HISD Police Chief Jimmy Dotson. During the meeting, district leaders briefed the senator on HISD’s partnerships with federal, state, and local authorities to prevent crime.
HISD has a police force of 200 commissioned peace officers and is the only school police department in the country that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the same group that provides accreditation for city police departments and county sheriff’s offices.
During the meeting, Dr. Grier stressed that safety has remained a top priority for HISD despite budget challenges. “We lost $78 million in state funding. We made cuts across this district that were very painful. What we did not cut was our police department and our law enforcement efforts here.”
October 24, 2011
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) praised the HISD Police Department for taking proactive steps to protect students, staff, and district visitors. “I am here to say ‘Well done,’ to not only the Houston Independent School District, but also to their police department,” Senator Cornyn said. “I think this is a great example that can be implemented across, not only Texas, but across the rest of the country.”
Senator Cornyn made the comments after a discussion with Superintendent Terry Grier, Board of Education Trustee Michael Lunceford, Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla, and HISD Police Chief Jimmy Dotson. During the meeting, district leaders briefed the senator on HISD’s partnerships with federal, state, and local authorities to prevent crime.
HISD has a police force of 200 commissioned peace officers and is the only school police department in the country that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the same group that provides accreditation for city police departments and county sheriff’s offices.
During the meeting, Dr. Grier stressed that safety has remained a top priority for HISD despite budget challenges. “We lost $78 million in state funding. We made cuts across this district that were very painful. What we did not cut was our police department and our law enforcement efforts here.”