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Board approves application for active‑attack response equipment grant to equip district police
Summary
Trustees approved applying for the FY2027 Active Attack Response Equipment Grant to obtain ballistic shields and breaching tools required under recent state guidance; administrators said some equipment had already been purchased using existing funds and in‑house training is planned.
The Wichita Falls ISD Board authorized staff to apply for a state grant to equip the district police department with active‑attack response equipment, including ballistic shields and breaching tools.
The district presented the FY2027 Active Attack Response Equipment Grant opportunity through the Texas Criminal Justice Division and tied the application to state legislative direction stemming from House Bill 33. The presenter said the grant “is a way for us to get [shields and rams]” and noted that the district had already procured some breaching tools with existing funds.
Anthony Smith, identified in the board materials as chief of police, explained the equipment purpose and training approach: "The purpose of the grant is to equip law enforcement officers with full resistance shields in breaching tools as mandate as mandated by house bill 33." He said the department has begun purchasing some basic breaching tools and conducts in‑house training rather than sending officers off campus for external classes. Trustees raised questions about training and deployment but generally supported pursuing grant funds.
The board moved, seconded and approved the administrative recommendation to submit the grant application. The vote was recorded on the meeting record by voice; no formal tally with individual board names was read aloud in the transcript.
