With the founding of the first Lake Travis ISD police department, what is the district’s largest safety and security initiative?
The safety and security of the students, staff and visitors has always been and will continue to be my [No. 1] priority. The establishment of the district's police department simply builds on that commitment by increasing staffing (at a reduced cost) and will allow the officers to spend more time building meaningful, lasting relationships with all the stakeholders of Lake Travis ISD and the surrounding community.
How will your professional background serve you in this role? What have you learned as the district’s safety and security coordinator?
I've spent my entire adult life serving others, and I feel very fortunate to be able to continue that service in my very own community. I was given many opportunities in my prior career to lead many different aspects of a large, traditional police department from a command-level perspective. That gave me the skills I believe are required to lead a well-rounded, professional police department. As for my prior role as the safety and security coordinator, that was an invaluable step that taught me so much about the education side of my current position. It will have a huge impact as I step into a new position that incorporates both sides of my professional background.
Are there any differences between a traditional municipal police officer and an officer within a school district?
While there are some differences, mostly relating to the nuances of working in an educational setting, I believe an officer working in a school district should have the same qualities as an effective officer in any other setting. I think the school setting provides many opportunities for officers that a call-driven municipal police department may not. Coming from a large department, I was always disappointed that officers didn't have the time to build deep-rooted relationships in the community, even if they wanted to. LTISD officers will have the luxury of building those relationships, and hiring officers that share the same desire was definitely a priority of mine as I interviewed applicants.
Is there any additional training or resources provided to school police officers?
Yes, there are many resources and additional training available to officers involved in school-based law enforcement. I have always partnered with the Texas School Safety Center and will continue to do so. They are an incredible resource for not only police officers but also for school administrators and school safety and security professionals.
How will future members of the department work to build relationships and trust with students and staff on campus?
I touched on this briefly before, but second only to keeping the students safe, my expectation is that our officers will work tirelessly to build trust and meaningful relationships not only at the campus level but in the entire community. I believe that goes hand in hand with keeping this district safe. It is very important to me that our officers are approachable, trusted and serve an additional adult on campus that students can go to in a time of need.
As the district works to compile its police force, what are some of the qualities you are looking for in LTISD police officers?
When I was selecting applicants for hire, I wanted a strong combination of successful work experience coupled with great communication skills and a true desire to help others.
How will the department work with other law enforcement agencies in the area?
I think this is an area that is extremely important, and I am very fortunate that I already have great relationships with not only surrounding law enforcement agencies but all public safety agencies in the area. We will all work together to keep the community and district safe moving forward. This area is very fortunate to have such professional public safety agencies, and I am thankful that I have been given the opportunity to continue to partner with these agencies.
Throughout the country, some have expressed concern regarding police officers within public school systems and how it may impact suspension or arrest rates on campus. How would you address these concerns if they exist in the community?
I think these concerns are valid if you don't have the right officers in place or have not established and communicated clear guidelines and expectations for the department. I view the criminal justice system as an absolute last resort as I don't believe it is in the student's best interest. I think district police officers should work in partnership with campus administrators to make sure we reach students at the earliest possible intervention level and give them the direction or assistance they need to make sure they never get introduced to the criminal justice system.
Why was the formation of a police department needed at LTISD?
Although we had a great relationship with the Travis County Sheriff's Office and its School Resource Officer program, creating a district-run police department makes sense in several ways. This department has allowed us to increase the number of our officers at no additional expense to the taxpayers. That will allow us to be more available to build long-term relationships. I'm excited to have the staffing to be able to spend more time at each of our 11 campuses and reach more students than ever before. Additionally, we will work under our own policies and expectations and be able to hire officers to meet the needs of the district and community. My goal is to have the entire Lake Travis community realize the benefit of creating this department in the months and years to come.
