Every day, a group of dedicated individuals work together behind the scenes to keep the many HPISD school campuses safe. From police officers to security guards to crossing guards, each person plays a vital role in keeping the school community protected.
“School safety is the number one reason why we have our school district police department,” Police Sergeant Michael Connell said. “Our main role is to make sure everyone on campus is safe.”
The HPISD Police Department works closely with University Park Police Department to keep all campuses secure. Officers monitor school entrances, supervise traffic and ensure procedures are followed during drills and emergencies.
“We’re always on campus,” Connell said. “We’re here every morning at the doors making sure the right people are coming in.”
While the police departments handle major safety responsibilities, the HPISD security staff, who are employed by the district rather than the police department, play an important role in the school’s operation. They monitor hallways and background check all visitors who enter throughout the day. Additionally, their friendly presence helps students feel welcome and safe at school.
“They are awesome,” Senior Boone Bonfield said. “They’re always there in the front desk checking students’ IDs and saying ‘Hi’ to people in the mornings.”
While police and security work side by side, each has distinct duties. The police handle emergencies and legal matters, while security guards maintain order and connection within the building.
“I just roll with it and go with the flow,” Head Security Officer Kim Turner said. “We train for emergencies like lockdowns, fire drills, or severe weather.”
Being prepared isn’t just practicing drills. It’s also about knowing how to help when something unexpected happens. Every member of the security team has a different role to play, and clear communication keeps everything running smoothly.
“We practice these drills, practice makes perfect and if I feel like it’s something that I can’t deal with, I let them know, and we’ll work together to resolve it,” Turner said. “The principals and us really work pretty well together, so we keep everybody in the loop.”
The security team builds trust by talking with students and being present every day. Their strong relationships with the students help to prevent any problems and create a safer atmosphere at HP.
“It’s good to know somebody’s on your team, even if it’s not a teacher,” Bonfield said. “Just someone who knows who you are, who you can be friends with and who makes you feel safe when you see them.”
Beyond safety, the relationships between students and staff create an atmosphere of trust. Many students know the guards by name, and the guards take the time to greet students throughout the day.
“Miss Kim, Cedric…they all know my name personally and say hi to me every single day,” Bonfield said. “It’s always a great way to start and end my day.”
The sense of security extends outside of the building. Each morning and afternoon, crossing guards make sure students get to and from school safely.
“[My job is] to take care of my kids, and make sure they get home safe and make it to school safe, those are my responsibilities,” Bradfield crossing guard Donna Palmer said. “I don’t leave the street until I make sure they completely cross over.”
Crossing guards jobs continue no matter the weather or traffic conditions. They stand at their posts every day, watching for cars and waving to students as they pass.
“It doesn’t matter the weather,” Palmer said. “We’re gonna always be here, keeping our students safe.”
Many of these safety workers have been working in the district for years. Day after day, they choose to come to school and keep all the students and teachers safe with a smile on their faces.
“The best part is waking up, coming and seeing my kids in the morning,” Palmer said. “If you don’t have your heart in it, don’t take this job because I love the kids.”
