Tag Archives: HISD Police

HISD Police Department’s K-9 unit continues to expand

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.”

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HISD Police to celebrate Police Appreciation Week

This 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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HISD Police Department welcomes new K-9

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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

HISD Police Department swears in new sergeants and officers

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The Houston Independent School District Police Department hosted a ceremony Wednesday to recognize the promotions of six new sergeants and to swear in seven new officers.

The celebration, which was held at the High School for Law and Justice for the officers and their families, honored the new sergeants, who were officially sworn into their roles last month, as well as the new officers, who were sworn in at the event.

“This is more than a swearing in,” Police Chief Paul Cordova said. “This is a public commitment to the principles of law enforcement, and it’s our officers reinforcing their commitment to serving the community.”

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan expressed her appreciation to the department and the new officers for their work in keeping HISD schools safe. Continue reading

HISD Police Emergency Response Team to respond to most critical threats

The Houston Independent School District Police Department has developed a new Emergency Response Team designed to respond to potential crisis situations throughout the district.

The 10-member team will have specialized uniforms and equipment, allowing them to mobilize and deploy quickly when a crisis occurs.

“If there is an active shooter scene, we don’t have an hour to wait,” HISD Police Chief Paul Cordova said, noting that emergency assistance from external law enforcement agencies can take up to an hour. “What we need is to have the equipment and the personnel in the field ready to go at all times.”

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HISD Police strengthen presence in northeast Houston

The Houston Independent School District Police Department opened a new police substation in northeast Houston to better support the schools and communities in that area.

Located in the former Chatham Elementary School on Bertwood Street, the northeast substation will serve the north, east, and central sides of town.

The new location was established as part of the police department’s safety and security initiatives for the 2018-2019 school year.

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HISD police officers wearing pink badges during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many HISD police officers are sporting pink police badges this month to help raise awareness about the disease and raise funding for research.

Officers who contributed $20 or more are wearing special pink badges throughout the month, signifying their commitment to the cause. The money raised will go to the American Cancer Society to support patients and their families fighting breast cancer.

“The Pink Badge Program is a great way for our officers to show support for our community,” Assistant Police Chief Lucretia Rogers said. “I think it demonstrates our commitment to supporting families who are struggling with this serious disease.”

The Pink Badge program is supported by various law enforcement agencies across the country. This is the second year HISD’s police department has participated.

 

HISD PD adds six new vehicles to its fleet

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Six new black and white police vehicles — each adorned with clean, streamlined graphics — are being added this fall to the Houston Independent School District Police Department fleet.

The new graphics showcase a black vehicle shell with white front and rear doors displaying reflective images of the HISD Police badge and department name. The vehicle number is located at the back, along with a reflective emergency bar.

“These new graphics avoid any confusion,” HISD Police Sgt. Quinten Flannel said. “We decided that we wanted to be part of these efforts and made the move to that direction for safety above all.”

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HISD PD hosts ‘National Night Out’ against neighborhood crime

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Music, laughter, and cheers filled the courtyard at Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts on Tuesday as students, employees, and community members participated in the HISD Police Department’s National Night Out celebration.

National Night Out is an annual event that aims to make neighborhoods safer by strengthening relationships between community members and police departments. HISD Police honored the day with a free public celebration, which featured local vendors and organizations, music, food, and appearances from emergency personnel.

“NNO is just a festive day. We host these events because we want our communities to feel relaxed in their neighborhoods,” HISD Chief Police Paul Cordova said. “We want them to collaborate on how to solve problems, meet each other, meet us, and feel comfortable.”

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HISD PD offers employees implicit bias training courses

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In an effort to reduce opportunities for discriminatory perceptions, the Houston Independent School District Police Department is now offering its employees training on implicit bias.

The implicit bias training is meant to expose participants to their unconscious biases and offer information on how to eliminate those perceptions.

The two-day training kicked off in September at police headquarters and was led by Epic Collaborative Advisors, a consulting firm. Department leaders discussed how to interact with stakeholders and make better decisions when working with a variety of people out in the field.

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