What happened?
In a presentation to the board, HISD Police Chief William Edwards said the cadet program would create a pipeline of new officers for the district's police department to satisfy House Bill 3, a law requiring an armed officer to be present on each campus in the district.
Those interested would start as campus safety officers before becoming a police cadet. Once cadets complete their training, they can transfer into the Hutto ISD Police Department as a full officer. The two full-time police positions will not be filled until September, when hired cadets are expected to complete their training.
Edwards said cadets hired will:
- Complete one year of employment as a campus safety officer
- Meet all police hiring standards, including medical and psychological screenings that will be paid for by applicants
- Commit to two years of employment in HISD after completion of the cadet academy
In August, HISD trustees moved to approve a measure to expand the department to comply with HB 3, a law requiring armed security guards on all Texas public and charter schools, which will go into effect Sept. 1.
Edwards previously said the district had a few options to meet this requirement, ranging from expanding the police department so an armed officer is on each campus to contracting with third-party services or individuals with the appropriate certifications necessary to carry a firearm on campus.
