Six police officers became the newest members of the the Houston Independent School District Police Department on Friday after being sworn in during a ceremony.
[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00004YHkvrIv1P0″ g_name=”20150925-HISDPDCeremony” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]
Nearly 80 family members, friends and local law enforcement officers attended the ceremony to watch the group receive their police badges and take the oath of office. HISD Chief of Police Robert Mock delivered opening remarks during the event and encouraged the officers to remember the special occasion.
“School district policing is unique because we have a different mission than typical municipal policing, and it takes a special person to do this job,” Mock told the officers. “We put you through a lot of rigorous tests and interviews, made you uncomfortable and challenged yourselves to get to this point.”
Newly sworn-in officer Ronald Cooks and son of HISD PD Sgt. Sabrina Nawlins thanked his family and the department’s command staff during a short speech.
“I thank you for your guidance, for allowing me to be here and to have the opportunity to prove my value to this family by giving me a career where I can hold my head high in front of my kids and tell them I’m a police officer,” said Cooks.
Cooks and five other class members joined the department as police officers: Briteny Burden, Shirell Gee, Heather Lopez, Rafael Montes and Fregens Daniel.
“Going through this process was no crystal standard, but I saw it through,” said Daniel. “I would like to thank the HISD family for welcoming me with open arms, Chief Robert Mock and Assistant Chief of Police for having a knowledgeable structured staff, and for selecting me to a part of a strong continuing foundation.”
The HISD Police Department is the only accredited public school district police department in the nation and responds to more than 81,380 calls per year across 300 square miles in the Houston area.
“Today, you’re given a great trust and it’s not a trust that is given lightly,” Mock said. “We appreciate you taking this challenge, and this is the day you will start serving and protecting.”