HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District Police Department, Houston Police Department, and community ministers discussed a partnership Wednesday that will help to prevent crime and provide additional security for students and teachers as they close out the school year.
HISD Superintendent Millard House II, HISD Police Chief of Police Pedro Lopez and community ministers spoke at the news conference.
Through “Project Safe Start 2022,” security is increased on and around school campuses during the last days of the year to ensure schools and their surrounding areas remain safe, a news release said.
There will also be 60 preachers with “Houston Ministers Against Crime” at 14 high schools and six middle schools. They will interact with the students and teachers and become mentors to ensure the students are ready to start summer safely.
“We’ll have our preachers at every school at certain trouble spots to help be sure that we can cut down the flame and have some peace and harmony and safety this year, with no incident again at the close of our schools,” said Pastor F.N. Williams.
“Knowing what happened in Uvalde, I can assure everyone that we are committed and will do everything in our power to keep our kids safe in the last few days of school,” said Houston Police Assistant Chief Ban Tien.