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Trustees approve FBISD reserve police program under recent Texas law
Summary
The board approved creating an unpaid reserve-police officer program under House Bill 1458, directing staff to draft a reserve‑officer policy and background‑check process; district police said reserves would be volunteers who pass the same checks as paid officers.
Flower Bluff Independent School District trustees approved creating an unpaid reserve‑police officer program after the chief outlined changes enabled by recent state legislation.
The chief told the board that House Bill 1458, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, allows school districts to establish reserve, unpaid volunteer law‑enforcement programs. "What we're asking here tonight is that you guys approve us to be able to do that and we'll get started with some interest that we've already had coming in on it," the chief said.
Trustees approved a motion to authorize staff to draft policy and begin recruiting and vetting potential reserve officers. The chief said the district will conduct the same background checks required for paid officers and will carry reserves' commission once they meet requirements. The first interested candidate mentioned in the presentation was the district's law‑enforcement teacher, Mr. Jorgensson, who has signaled readiness to join the program.
Board members asked practical questions about candidate interest and whether reserve officers must be district employees; the chief clarified the statute does not require reserve officers to be district employees and the program could include reserves from other agencies if the board approves.
The board's approval initiates policy development and background‑check procedures; no compensation changes or hiring decisions were made at the meeting.
