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Lubbock ISD outlines expanded school police force and new threat‑assessment systems
Summary
Chief Tierina and Director Shane Anderson told the Lubbock ISD Board the district has increased police staffing to 33 officers, added gang‑specialist and active‑shooter instructor teams, and deployed state and commercial software (Sentinel, Stop It, Lightspeed) to track threats and behavior across campuses.
Lubbock ISD officials on a school board workshop day described expanded campus policing staff, new threat‑assessment processes and software, and ongoing investments to secure doors and improve emergency response across the district.
Chief Tierina told the board Lubbock ISD Police had increased to 33 full‑time officers, including three sergeants and one state‑certified telecommunicator, and that officers provide daily patrols at middle and high schools while elementary schools are covered by assignments across the roster. "We have 33 full time officers," Tierina said.
Tierina described several operational changes: creation of a three‑officer gang specialist unit with officers trained by the Texas Anti‑Gang Center to improve rapid information sharing with metro and municipal detectives; embedding plainclothes officers at large events to observe crowd behavior; expanding bike patrol training and donated equipment; greater use of the canine unit as a deterrent; and cross‑training and instructor development so LISD can serve as a regional training hub.
Tierina provided spring‑semester activity figures: 724 incidents where officers "actually see something" and intervene, 979 calls for service from campuses, and 5,048 community contacts; she said fall semester activity is already higher. She also described use of about 50 additional officers from Lubbock Police Department, the sheriff's office and other departments to fill patrols at times when LISD officers are assigned to other duties.
On behavioral safety and technology, Shane Anderson, director of safety and security, described district procedures and statewide reporting requirements. Anderson explained how the district uses an anonymous reporting system called Stop It (students submit reports via Chromebooks or phones), TEA's Sentinel system for housing threat and suicide assessments and ensuring records transfer when students move between districts, and Lightspeed for monitoring student searches on district Chromebooks. "We get probably 15 to 20 StopIts a day," Anderson said.
Anderson described operational steps for emergencies: a "hold" to clear hallways for medical response, lockdown and "secure" protocols, a controlled release process to avoid long parental lines at campuses, and a reunification plan that moves students to an alternate location after a serious incident. He said the district inspects approximately 2,000 exterior doors weekly and that the district spent "over $2,000,000" on door repairs and replacements last year; he noted a full frame and door replacement can cost roughly $25,000.
On personnel and training, Anderson said eight officers have become active‑shooter instructors and several officers (he estimated five) are pursuing mental‑health officer certification with plans to train others. He said the district maintains 24‑hour coverage: a mix of uniformed officers on campus during the day and an eight‑person nighttime security team after 5 p.m.
Board members asked about the recent state cell‑phone restriction law and whether it hampers reporting; Anderson replied Stop It and district Chromebooks provide alternate reporting channels and the district continues to receive reports. Officials also discussed future technology under consideration, including single‑button lockdown devices on staff lanyards and door contacts that send alerts when an exterior door fails to latch.
Tierina and Anderson credited partnerships with Lubbock Police Department, the sheriff's office, and regional agencies for investigations and training; Tierina said the gang specialists coordinate with other detectives so the district receives timely intelligence when students are involved in off‑campus investigations. Anderson said Sentinel allows safety plans and prior threat assessments to follow students who transfer into the district.
District staff said part of the bond package includes funding for safety items such as playground fencing; Anderson said about "seven or eight" projects will be funded from the bond for safety and security improvements.
Board members praised the changes and recruitment, noting improved community engagement by officers and the district's emphasis on training and protocols. No formal board action or vote on the safety program was taken at the workshop; the presentation served as an update and request for continuing implementation.
