Cy-Fair ISD took the first steps in implementing its district-operated police department Dec. 12 with the introduction of Alan Bragg, CFISD chief of police.

Bragg served 21 years as the Spring ISD chief of police, and he started the department there in 1990.

"It's an honor to be here," Bragg said. "We're really excited about this opportunity and this new adventure. We're looking forward to creating a police department for Cy-Fair ISD that you can be proud of, and one that will ensure the safety and security of your students, staff and facilities for a long time."

When Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman canceled his office's contract with Cy-Fair ISD in April, the district opted to pursue a short-term contract with Precinct 4 and adopted a resolution to allow administrators to hire police officers or start a district-wide police department in the future.

"In mid-September, we realized we were uncertain about the future of the contract with the county," said Teresa Hull, associate superintendent for human resources, student services and communication. "We felt it was in the district's best interest to move forward with the creation of its own department."

CFISD administrators visited several district police departments in Spring, Klein, Spring Branch and Katy to get a feel for what it would be like to start a department from the ground up.

"We selected those [districts] because the current chiefs of police there originally started those departments and could assist us in what it would take to start a department," Hull said. "Information gained from those visits led us to believe it wasn't a process we needed to rush through quickly."

Although trustees approved Dec. 12 the 2012 constable contracts, either party, with 30 days notice, may terminate the agreement.

"As the new police chief joins us and they start implementing the new department, and if they determine they are ready to start in March, we would give them 30 days notice," Hull said.

Check back with Community Impact Newspaper in the coming weeks for more information on the district's newly formed police department.