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HISD Police Chief Robert Mock encouraged his officers to get to know and build relationships with students, as he addressed the group at the department’s 20th Annual Awards Luncheon on Friday.
“You have the ability get to know these students and intervene in their lives,” Mock said. “I challenge each one of you to choose to make a difference.”
HISD police officers, personnel, and family members gathered at Brady’s Landing restaurant for the event, which celebrates the achievements, contributions, and outstanding customer service provided by the department during the academic school year.
Featured guest speakers included Superintendent Richard Carranza and City of Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, both of whom thanked the officers for their service and spoke about the importance of relational policing.
”When you’re working with students, you are much more than a police officer,” Carranza said. “It’s not just about enforcing the law, it’s about connecting with students.”
Carranza also reminded the group that every child has a story. Often, he said, school police officers are in a unique position to connect with students when no one else can.
“Above all else, you’re dealing with kids,” Acevedo said. “It just may be that the one adult that can change them is you.”
Also on hand to support the officers were HISD Board of Education Trustees Diana Dávila and Rhonda Skillern-Jones, and former Trustee Greg Meyers.
This year’s award recipients include:
- Outstanding Service Award: Deputy Don Bock
- Crossing Guard of the Year: Nathaniel Pierson
- Support Bureau Employee of the Year: Donna Rosette
- Rookie of the Year: Officer Robert Morgan
- Operations Bureau Campus Employee of the Year: Officer Landrum Price
- Operations Bureau Patrol Employee of the Year: Officer Eric Grant
- Supervisor of the Year: Lt. James Bridges