What special training are school district officers required to receive?

All school district police officers must complete police academy training, said David Rider, chief of Fort Bend ISD Police. State law requires officers assigned to school districts of over 30,000 students to undergo training in dealing with minors, said Gretchen Grigsby, government relations director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

• The adolescent brain
• The mental and behavioral health of children with special needs
• De-escalation techniques
• Mental health crisis intervention
• Restorative justice

Do school district police officers carry firearms or other weapons?

FBISD police officers carry firearms along with nonlethal weapons, such as pepper spray and batons, according to Rider.

Do officers wear body cameras?

All FBISD police officers wear body cameras, but their vehicles are not equipped with cameras, Rider said. State law does not require police officers to use cameras, said Gretchen Grigsby, government relations director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

What is the extent of FBISD PD’s authority?

The FBISD Police Department’s officers have the same authoritative powers as those in other local police departments, including the power to perform arrests, FBISD Police Department Sgt. Shannon Hall said.

“Once you become certified as a police officer in the state of Texas, everyone has the same scope of authority and duty,” Hall said.

The FBISD Police Department has jurisdiction over everything within the school district’s boundaries, he said.

Can minors be arrested?

Minors age 10 or older can be charged with a crime, Rider said, citing state law.

However, state law prohibits officers from arresting juvenile offenders for certain Class C misdemeanors, according to legislative documents.

• <10 years old: cannot be arrested

• 10-16 years old: may be sent to juvenile detention facility

• 17+ years old: may be sent to county jail