Texas troopers to help patrol Texas School for the Deaf’s campus
AUSTIN TX Sept 19 2018 — DPS troopers are teaming up with Texas School for the Deaf to make its 67-acre campus safer.
Until this year, the 50 building school, which serves 600 students from Pre-K to age 22, only had staff members trained as security personnel. Those security employees are not peace officers, nor are they armed.
TSD’s Superintendent, Claire Bugen says now, armed DPS troopers are on-site multiple times a day. They’re getting to know the school’s layout, should there ever be an emergency. They’re also getting to know students and staff.
The school’s superintendent says in addition to those regular visits, DPS’s Capital Region is also holding some routine staff meetings on campus as, so that more troopers are being seen, and familiarizing themselves with the school.
“They’re already patrolling the campus a couple of times a day, which is just really nice, just the presence goes a long way to prevention,” Bugen said. “You know, it is clearly not the solution to all of the issues related to school safety, but we’re very excited.”
Bugen says she and her staff are currently working to identify a spot on campus to create an office space for troopers.
“We just want to find them a home on the campus where they can get to know the students a little better, have a little more visibility at school events,” Bugen said.
Because TSD is a state school, Bugen says her campus didn’t have access to school resource officers, like other districts. After Governor Greg Abbott introduced his School Safety Initiative following the Santa Fe High School shooting in May, Bugen says one of her staff members came up with the idea of asking for help from DPS.
“In accordance with Governor Abbott’s School Safety Initiative, DPS Troopers are working with local law enforcement and school officials to increase the visibility of law enforcement on campuses and at school events,” said Spokesperson for DPS, Regional Director, Dwight Mathis. “We are proud to partner with TSD to bolster security on the campus and to enhance safety for all students and school staff.”
KXAN
