The Pflugerville ISD board of trustees voted Nov. 15 to rename Chief Patrick Petherbridge as the school district’s police chief as a result of ongoing negotiations regarding an interlocal agreement between Pflugerville ISD and the Pflugerville Police Department.

Petherbridge was appointed district police chief in February 2017, but his contract was approved through an interlocal agreement between the school district and PPD. Under that agreement, PfISD subcontracts police officers who are employed by PPD, district spokesperson Tamra Spence said.

Now Petherbridge is the first district police department employee directly employed by the school district rather than the city police department. By the time the negotiations conclude, all district police officers may become direct employees of the district, Spence said.

During the negotiation period of the interlocal agreement, Spence said district residents should not expect any coverage gaps at schools and campus facilities.

Spence said more information regarding the contract negotiations will be available following the school district’s Thanksgiving holiday break.