Howe ISD Superintendent Kevin Wilson has been reluctant in the past to have the district create a police force, but after visiting with Anna ISD and their situation, he feels now that having a Howe ISD Police Chief that answers to the district and not the city council is more favorable.
“Another pro for us to be able to find a police chief is that it’s an opportunity for advancement for possibly someone who is retiring from a city or county force and can get into the school business and get in our retirement benefits,” said Wilson to the board.
After visiting with Anna ISD’s police chief, Wilson felt more comfortable since the chief said they had wished it were set up sooner.
The first step in the process is to hire an SSD (safety and security director) which would be a police officer who would be commissioned by another organization. The officer would be armed security for the district and would be the police chief-in-waiting. There is a process to be approved to have an ISD police force which is a three to six-month process. In the interim through the process period, the SSD would have that title instead of police chief until the ISD process has been fulfilled.
“When everything gets approved, the SSD becomes the chief and we can hire additional officers at that time,” said Wilson.
The going rate for a school police chief is $70,000 to $80,000. Wilson said he and Howe ISD Finance Director Julie Snapp looked at the budget and were able to shift dollars around in order to make room for the hire.
Another expense that the district would incur would be a police vehicle. Wilson says that he learned from the Anna ISD police chief that they could purchase a Dodge Charger for far less than $31,000. The projected cost in year one is $57,000 plus the salary. Wilson says the bulk of that amount is in the vehicle but expects it to be far less than the projected amount. The total slot would be $110,000 for the first year to start the Howe ISD Police Force.
Wilson did discuss other options with the board including hiring security companies or off-duty officers.
“My main thing is that I want a person assigned here every day where it’s not a revolving door with an officer that doesn’t know our kids,” said Wilson. “I don’t want just an armed presence. A big part of this I think is becoming part of the district and building relationships with students and staff.”
Wilson also suggested that down the road if the officer has a degree, they could teach some courses.
Wilson suggested that he felt comfortable that the district could find a police chief by the beginning of this school year and be in a situation to have multiple officers by this time next year.
School Board Member Clint Catching made the motion which carried unopposed.
