HISD Police sends student safety reminder for graduation and summer break

With the school year winding down, HISD Police is joining forces with local religious leaders, school district administrators, and law enforcement agencies to emphasize the importance of student safety.

The message is a key part of Project Safe Start. Established in 1989, the program aims to beef up police patrols in and around campuses during the last week of school to help prevent criminal activity and increase student safety as summer vacation begins.

“In HISD, our job is not over until every child makes it home safely,” HISD Police Lt. James Bridges said. “We take this responsibility very seriously, and the commitment to ensuring that this is accomplished each day.”

Project Safe Start kicked off on Wednesday during a press conference at HISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. It drew representatives from HISD Police, the HISD Board of Education, the Houston Police Department, Houston Ministers Against Crime, Latino Ministers Against Crime, Police & Clergy Alliance, and Spring Branch and Alief school districts.

Each highlighted the importance of maintaining a safe learning environment during the final week of school week, as well as the importance of keeping kids safe during the summer.

“One of the things that we always look forward to is making sure that we keep public safety number one in our schools,” HISD Board of Education President Wanda Adams said as she commended law enforcement and city officials for their joint efforts to protect the city’s youth.

During the final days of the 2016-2017 school year, HISD Police will increase patrols in and around HISD campuses as a proactive way to monitor students and deter any potential criminal activity.

With end-of-year celebrations forthcoming, the department encouraged students to participate in safe activities and avoid situations involving potentially dangerous or criminal activities. The department also reminded parents to set positive examples for their children by using good judgement and obeying all laws.

“Children have the right to learn and to feel safe,” Houston Ministers Against Crime President F. N. Williams said during the press conference. “We will continue through the summer checking on those kids and those school areas to be sure that the summers will be just as safe as the last day of school.”