HOUSTON — Shamara Garner was sworn in as the first female police chief for Houston Independent School District Friday.
Chief Garner, an African American woman, retired from the Houston Police Department as a lieutenant after 28 years and joined the HISD police force in October 2022.
She said the biggest issue she's facing as HISD's police chief is recruitment, which is a nationwide problem for police departments.
In addition, parents have questions about big changes in the legislature, including the law requiring an armed officer on every campus.
HISD has 274 campuses. The 39 middle schools and 37 high schools are all in compliance.
"Officers are on our campuses, middle schools and high schools, and yes, I do feel confident in our plan as it pertains to our patrol officers covering our elementary schools," Chief Garner said. "We will increase our staffing as funding becomes available."
For now, the other HISD campuses will have patrol officers driving by.
The new law does provide for a good cause exception to an armed officer on each campus. That is if a district has problems like a lack of funding. If that's the case, an alternative plan must be presented.
Some places are considering retired military or law enforcement officers as volunteers.
Chief Garner said at this point, everything is on the table as HISD works on its security plan to comply with the new law, which goes into effect September 1.
HISD's first day of school is August 28.