By Laura Alanis-Lopez
Special to the Pflag

Members of the Pflugerville ISD school board reviewed the current agreement in place between the city of Pflugerville and the school district during the January PISD board meeting.
“As with any contract or service provided to the district, it is important that we ensure that the contract is being carried out as agreed and that operations are efficient, effective and managed within budget,” said Board President Dr. Carol Fletcher.
Signed on June 2, 2008, the interlocal agreement is a contract that establishes the relationship between the two parties and is what created the Pflugerville ISD Police Department in the 2008-09 school year. The agreement contains details about the police department’s staffing numbers and an annually reviewed estimated budget.
Currently halfway through the contract, the Pflugerville ISD Police Department encompasses a staff of 16 officers that range from a chief of police, two sergeants, an investigator, a K-9 officer and 11 campus-based school resource officers who provide support to all schools in the district.
“Student and staff safety is our top priority. Students cannot be successful academically if they do not feel safe at school,” said Pflugerville ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre. “By forming the Pflugerville ISD Police Department, we have taken a proactive step toward providing safe schools in a way that uses the taxpayer’s money more effectively. PISDPD ensures that the district is served by a single law enforcement agency with a focus upon the needs and challenges facing young people today.”
Financially supported by the school district’s general fund, all district police officers undergo a hiring process that includes an interview board composed of both Pflugerville ISD police and other PISD officials, as well as a background check.
Attempting to hire those with a knowledge of the juvenile justice system, those with the Pflugerville ISD Police Department often provide security at athletic and special events, support youth organizations, conduct investigations and provide counsel to the students.
“District police officers help reduce school violence and make schools as safe as possible. Officers regularly interact with students, faculty and staff, as well as youth organizations, parents, and community leaders. They are problem solvers, educators, facilitators, and first responders. Their presence helps reduce delinquent behavior, improve communication, and clarify misconceptions between youth and law enforcement,” said Pflugerville ISD Police Chief William Edwards.
With the department’s staffing levels expected to be addressed again as the district continues to grow, those on the school board say that previous contracts with Travis County and the city of Pflugerville enabled them to realize the need for a single entity.
In addition, the challenge of coordinating services across the district with agencies like Pflugerville, Round Rock, Austin and Travis County, due to the unincorporated portions of the county, became a challenge that the new agreement has solved.
While all of the officers are assigned to either the Justice Center or a campus, and it serves as its own department, city of Pflugerville Police officers assist the Pflugerville ISD Police Department whenever necessary, as many of the city officers are dual-commissioned and the PISD Police Department is not a 24-hour agency.
“School-based law enforcement officers help develop respect for law and order, provide counseling and referral services, and they create for young people a more positive concept of the legal and judicial system,” said Edwards.
For more information about the Pflugerville I.S.D. Police Department or to meet the officers assigned to your child’s school, visit their Web site by going to the city’s Web site at cityofpflugerville.com and clicking PISD Police under the departments tab.