School police force, Celina Record

Celina ISD to establish own police force Lisa Ferguson, lferguson@starlocalmedia.com Feb 4, 2016 Celina ISD will establish a districtwide police department by the start of next school year. Following the school board meeting last week, Superintendent Rick DeMasters said “it’s about time probably” that the district had a police force of its own. “As we grow, that need is going to arise anyway, so … it’s one of those things where we’re trying to get ahead of the curve a little bit,” he said. Celina ISD is the only school district of its size in Collin County that does not employ its own police force or a school resource officer. The Celina Police Department has long handled law enforcement-related issues within the district. The new department will cost the school district approximately $50,000 the first year. The force will likely start with one licensed police officer, who could be housed in an office at Celina High School. The program is “going to be in its infancy,” DeMasters said. “We will grow that program like we do anything else that’s new to us.” The decision to establish the department does not mean “that we have all this crime taking place [or] that the school district has a lot of things that need to be addressed from a police standpoint,” he emphasized. “What we’re looking for in this position is more of an educator versus a police officer. It’s someone that can be on our campuses at all times that offers us a presence, that can also help educate and that can also help build relationships not just with the students and staff, but also with our parents.” The uniformed officer will carry a weapon, potentially a firearm, DeMasters said. District officials anticipate the officer will primarily handle issues like truancy among students throughout the district. “Obviously, [the district is] funded by the students attending school, and if [an officer] can increase that even the slightest percentage … we have the opportunity to receive more funds,” DeMasters said. “Plus, the kids need to be in school anyway – that’s the bottom line. That’s what’s best for them.” The officer may act as an on-campus deterrent to crime and assist with district security measures that have been “ramped up” in recent years, he said. “This will just be an added extra piece to that, and obviously they’ll be responsible for a lot of that,” DeMasters said. The officer’s responsibilities would include helping campuses stay secure by monitoring doors, patrolling parking lots and assisting those in and around the district’s buildings. Kelly Davidson is chief of Melissa Schools Police Department. Formerly the chief of Prosper ISD’s police department, he helped other districts, including Argyle and Aubrey ISDs, establish their departments and is voluntarily serving as a consultant for Celina ISD. Like other law-enforcement agencies, school district police departments are regulated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. While most districts start with one officer, Davidson said they often request additional officers as the district grows. “It’s not like you need two officers on every campus’ that’s not what they’re there for,” Davidson explained. “They’re just there dealing with issues when they come up.” School district policing is vastly different than traditional law enforcement, he said. “In an ISD police department, you’re only talking about probably 10 percent law enforcement and 90 percent support to staff and students.” An ISD officer is also different than a SRO, which is a city police officer assigned to a school. “One is just dedicated to the district and answers to the superintendent of the school board and, of course, the state … whereas a city police officer answers to the chief of police and the city fathers and the state also,” Davidson said. “Where the SRO [will] go out and work the street in the summertime. This gives the school district an officer who’s there and is 100 percent focused on school district business.” School police officers typically do not discipline students, Davidson said. “That’s still a basic function of the campuses and the principals.” When it comes to tackling truancy, he said school district officers will often visit students’ homes in an effort to determine the cause of the issue and “try to get them back into the school to meet their educational needs.” Follow the Celina Record on Twitter @celinarecord.