Music, dancing, pizza, and puppy kisses were the recipe for a great day at Sutton Elementary as Sandra Coley’s fifth-grade class celebrated their grand prize for winning the HISD Police Name that Pup contest.
Earlier this fall, classrooms across HISD submitted votes to rename their newest team member and the department’s first-ever comfort dog. And the winning name suits her well—Justice.
Continue readingFirst impressions are always hard, but Jamaica took the first day of school in stride.
The hypoallergenic Bernedoodle — a special breed that has Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle parents — welcomed Wesley Elementary School students back to school with her tail wagging and a paw-sitive attitude.
The pup recently joined HISD Police as the department’s first-ever comfort dog, working on campuses across the district to help combat stress and anxiety in students and build trust between police, students, and the community.
Feeding more than 10,000 families five days a week during a pandemic is no easy task. It’s an effort that requires the collaboration of multiple departments across the district to bring it all together.
In just over a month, HISD — working together with the Houston Food Bank — has distributed 2 million pounds of food to more than 60,000 families. That range spans from March 14 through April 18.
“I appreciate the spotlight we’ve received, but it’s not just us,” HISD Nutrition Services Officer Betti Wiggins said, referencing the child nutrition department she leads. “We couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of Community Partnerships and HISD Police.”
Continue readingFifteen uniformed men and women gathered with friends and family Wednesday at the High School for Law and Justice to be sworn in as the district’s newest law enforcement officers.
The audience cheered after each officer had a shiny silver badge affixed to their uniform by a family member or friend. The new officers walked across the stage proudly, pausing to shake their colleagues’ hands and accept congratulations.
“Before stepping foot on a school campus, please remember that some of our students deal with challenges beyond what you can imagine,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said, offering the officers a few words of advice just before they were officially sworn in. “Remember to have a warm smile and a bit of compassion.”
Continue readingAt least three times a month, officers with the Houston Independent School District Police Department can be found at the northeast substation, training for emergency events they hope never happen.
The department’s Emergency Response Team trains diligently to prepare for high-pressure situations, such as hostile traffic stops, agitated individuals, barricaded subjects, and active shooters.
HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said the need for the training is greater than ever before in light of recent school shootings across the country.
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With more than 7,000 employees, Business Operations is the largest division in HISD. But what exactly do we do?
Before students can ever file into their classrooms, bus drivers and crossing guards must get them safely to school. Cafeteria workers must make them a nutritious breakfast. Custodians, police officers, and construction crews must make sure they have new, clean, safe spaces in which to learn.
The breadth of our work touches all facets of the district, and support is at the heart of everything we do. We help lay the foundation for student success — most of the time behind the scenes.
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Local religious, school, and community leaders joined together Friday to kick off the 29th year of Project Safe Start to ensure students are safe as they transition to summer vacation.
Together, the group will ensure additional patrol officers are placed in the immediate vicinity of schools and throughout neighborhoods surrounding school campuses to help monitor and decrease any illegal activity during the last few days of the school year.
“We acknowledge that it takes all of us to make this possible,” Houston Ministers Against Crime Pastor F. N. Williams II said. “It takes all of us working together to bring this to pass.”
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Most people don’t know that some of the most active members of the HISD Police Department are younger than 6 years old, furry, and do their part to keep the district safe.
The K-9 unit is a vital part of HISD’s Police Department, with all police dogs trained to support and protect officers. The K-9s also conduct area searches for drugs, weapons, or other contraband that may be on school grounds or in district facilities.
“The K-9 unit has been around since the ‘90s,” HISD Police Sergeant Tridung Tran said. “We started with two and now we’ve expanded to five K-9s. They allow us to provide a better service to the district.”
Continue readingThis week, law enforcement officers in HISD and across the country will be celebrated for their service and sacrifice as part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.
The annual observance was created in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which the date falls as Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.
“Every year we use this time to reflect on the value of peace officers to our society and the immense sacrifices they make on a daily basis to protect the community,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “During this week we want to honor both the living and the dead who have dedicated their lives to serve others.”
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The newest four-legged addition to the HISD Police Department arrived last week, wagging her tail to show her excitement.
Officer Boni is a German Shepherd with a Hungarian bloodline. For the next month, she will undergo additional training including obedience, stamina, endurance, and narcotics detection.
“Boni will demonstrate the role and duties of our K-9 team for the public,” HISD Sgt. Tridung Tran said. “We want to build long-lasting relationships with the communities we serve, and our K-9 officers are the perfect ice breaker.” Continue reading