HARLINGEN — City officials are proposing the Harlingen school district take steps to start its own police department amid residents’ calls for heightened security in the wake of the Uvalde massacre.
Meanwhile, district officials are reviewing the proposal, “making appropriate amendments,” spokeswoman Brianna Vela Garcia said Friday.
Earlier this week, Police Chief Michael Kester proposed the plan as part of an agreement through which the police department assigns four officers who help the district provide security.
“This interlocal agreement that we’re proposing this year will include some steps that we hope the school district will take, which is to start their own police force, at least on an entry level, and we will help supplement it as it goes along,” Kester told city commissioners during a special meeting Thursday.
During discussion, Mayor Norma Sepulveda said the proposal would help the district move in the “right direction” in dealing with one of the community’s biggest concerns.
“This is starting in the right direction and we hope that we can have a relationship with HCISD and that this can be signed rather quickly,” she said. “I know (school security) has been a big concern for all our community.”
District officials reviewing proposal
On Friday, Vela Garcia stated district officials were reviewing the proposed agreement while planning “appropriate amendments.”
“Harlingen CISD is in the process of reviewing the proposed memorandum of understanding with the city of Harlingen as it relates to the school resource officer program,” she stated. “The document, released to HCISD on Thursday evening, will be reviewed by school district attorneys. After making appropriate amendments to the MOU, our mutually agreed upon MOU will focus on ensuring the safest learning environment for HCISD students and staff.”
Agreement provides police officers
For years, the city has helped the school district provide security.
As part of an agreement, the police department assigns four officers to the district, which funds their salaries.
Now, city officials are proposing to help the district launch a police department.
“We will facilitate and continue to facilitate the support they need until they implement their own force,” Assistant City Manager Josh Ramirez said. “We’ll be there along the way to help them as well.”
District bolstering security
Meanwhile, district officials are planning to hire more security personnel while purchasing more surveillance cameras, Vela Garcia said.
For three years, Danny Castillo, a former Harlingen police chief and city commissioner, has served as the district’s director of emergency management and school safety, overseeing its security program.
Background
Since the May 24 Uvalde school massacre, residents here have been calling for heightened security at the school district with nearly 18,000 students, raising concerns during the city’s June town hall meeting and at a district community meeting earlier this month.
On Friday, city officials declined to release the proposed agreement, saying City Attorney Mark Sossi had not finalized his review, Ramirez said.
