When questions are raised about student safety, our community deserves clear, factual answers. Transparency and accountability are essential to building trust, and we welcome the opportunity to provide information about the Leander ISD Police Department and the work underway to strengthen it.

The Leander ISD Police Department is in its first year operating as an independent law enforcement agency. As with any new organization, there have been opportunities to learn, improve and grow. Throughout that process, our focus has remained unchanged: protecting our students, supporting our staff and building a police department that serves our schools with professionalism and excellence.

Below are the key messages and responses to the questions we’ve received.

  • The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) confirmed it is currently investigating Leander ISD PD regarding “background investigations”, whether the agency vetted an employee or employees properly.

During the spring 2026 semester, Leander ISD Police Chief Rogers informed incoming Superintendent Chris Clark, Ed.D.,  of a prior Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) inquiry regarding the department’s background investigation processes for new officers. At the time of this discussion, the employee whose practices were under review was no longer employed by the district.

Last month, Dr. Clark contacted TCOLE for additional details and was informed that an investigation opened in October 2025 remains active. While the district is awaiting written details, TCOLE officials indicated the investigation focuses on department vetting procedures. Leander ISD remains committed to transparency and will cooperate fully with TCOLE as this matter is finalized.

  • What is the district doing to ensure it is properly vetting employees? 

Leander ISD is committed to thorough and consistent hiring practices for all its employees. The District has reinforced its hiring and background investigation processes for the Leander ISD Police Department. All hiring managers and background investigators are completing TCOLE background investigation training this fall to ensure continued compliance with state standards.

  • Any response to that investigation?

The District has fully cooperated with TCOLE throughout this process. We are confident our hiring and background investigation practices are being followed. Additional clarifying  information was provided to TCOLE in December 2025. At this time, Leander ISD has not received any further response from TCOLE.

  • TCOLE officer license data shows eight sworn personnel have moved on from the department since its creation. Of those, four officers have a decade or more of law enforcement experience. Those same records show six new hires this summer, including an assistant police chief with nearly two decades of law enforcement experience. Three of the officers hired this summer have less than five years of experience.  Does the district dispute any of this data? 

We do not dispute that LISD PD has experienced turnover, as is common with many growing law enforcement agencies. Employees leave organizations for a variety of personal and professional reasons.

Our focus is on recruiting and retaining highly qualified officers who are committed to serving our students, staff and school communities. As a continuous improvement district, we continue to evaluate employee feedback and strengthen our practices to support a positive workplace and a high-performing police department.

  • We have spoken to former officers about retention issues at the department. Does the district feel it has had retention issues this past year? 

What LISD PD is experiencing is no different than many new law enforcement agencies in their first year. While there have been some staffing and retention challenges, our focus remains on developing and retaining highly qualified officers who are committed to serving and protecting our students, staff and school communities.  

  • What is the district doing to retain qualified officers moving forward?

Our focus is on recruiting and retaining highly qualified officers by offering competitive compensation, providing clear expectations through strong leadership and cultivating a culture centered on protecting and serving our students, staff and school communities. We are committed to creating an environment where officers can build long-term careers in service to the Leander ISD community.

  • Is the district in compliance with HB 3’s requirement to have an officer at every campus? If so, how is that being achieved?

Yes, Leander ISD is in compliance with the requirements of HB3. During the launch of LISD PD, the District utilized the allowable good cause exception while continuing its strong partnerships with Cedar Park and Leander police departments, as well as Travis County Sheriff’s Office to support campus safety. 

We anticipate having a dedicated School Resource Officer assigned to every middle and high school early in the 2026-27 school year and will continue phasing in school marshals at elementary campuses through the district’s implementation plan.

  • If not, has the district filed a good cause exception, and will you please send it to us or explain to us the terms of that exemption? 

Yes, the LISD board has approved a good cause exception, which is valid for five years. We are bringing an amendment to the Board on Aug. 6 to clarify the use of school marshals on our campuses. 

  • What challenges, if any, has the district faced implementing HB 3?

Like many school districts across the state of Texas, Leander ISD has faced challenges implementing HB3, particularly because many of its requirements were not accompanied by ongoing state funding, not to mention a statewide shortage of qualified law enforcement officers. Despite those challenges, student safety remains our highest priority. We will continue to implement the law’s requirements while recruiting and retaining officers to serve our schools.

  • How many officer positions are currently vacant?

LISD PD still needs to hire 4 officers. 

  • Do you dispute the TCOLE license data, which shows the district has 10 officers that are not in management positions? With 49 campuses, are you all 39 officers short? 

The premise of that calculation is not accurate. Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved a staffing model that assigns a commissioned police officer to each secondary campus and a school marshal to each elementary campus.

Currently, 10 commissioned officers are assigned to secondary campuses with additional officers in the hiring and training process. A good cause exception allows the remaining secondary campuses to be temporarily supported by school marshals while those officers complete background investigations and field training. 

The district has also hired 10 school marshals to service elementary campuses with additional candidates in the hiring process. As positions are filled and TCOLE training completed, those assignments will continue to expand in accordance with the district’s implementation plan.

  • Have all officers been issued department vehicles?

Vehicle assignments are part of the department’s phased implementation plan. The Leander ISD Police Department currently has 15 vehicles in service with an additional 15 vehicles on order. Officers hired this summer are completing field training before transitioning into full operational assignments.

  • Have all officers been issued rifles? 

The 2026-27 school year marks the first year the Leander ISD Police Department has operated as an independent law enforcement agency. Prior to this transition, the department operated under partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. Officers were equipped through those agencies.

Throughout that time, all Leander ISD officers were armed and completed the required annual firearms qualifications. As part of the transition to an independent police department, all officers will be qualified and issued department rifles prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year. 

  • Does the department have a fully operational computer-aided dispatch or records management system?

Yes. The Leander ISD Police Department has a fully operational computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records management system. As part of the department’s transition to an independent law enforcement agency, these systems were implemented to support dispatching, records management and report writing. Prior to that transition, those services were provided through partnerships with local law enforcement agencies.

  • Does the department have a permanent evidence storage process or facility?

Yes. The Leander ISD Police Department has established evidence handling procedures and a permanent evidence storage was reviewed and approved by TCOLE as part of the agency’s inspection process.

  • The district appears to have initiated a third-party review of the climate and culture within the Police and Emergency management departments. Has the district received that final third-party review yet? 

Yes, a third-party review has been received.

  • Who will have access to that report once the district receives it? 

The report will be shared only with select administrative personnel who have a legitimate need to know. Because it contains personnel information and sensitive safety information, access is limited to protect employee privacy and maintain the integrity of the district’s safety and security operations.