In 1996, the Pasadena ISD Police became aware of our need to prepare for any emergencies in our schools.  We recognized our limitations to response to a critical incident where an active shooter or terrorist was involved. 

Assistant Chief Troy Harrison completed a preliminary study into emergency response and utilized this information to prepare and present his thesis to the Leadership Command College in 1998. 

We immediately began to develop training and purchase equipment suitable for the protection of our Officers.  Each Patrol Officer is equipped with a Safariland Cover 6 Plus ballistic raid jacket, PASGT fragmentation helmet with Armor Holding face shield, and a Pro-Tech ballistic entry shield.  All protective equipment is rated at threat-level IIIA.  The personal equipment of each officer is stored in the trunk of each take-home car where it is immediately available under any circumstances.  Each situation will dictate minimum equipment required.  Under no circumstance will action be taken without all team members wearing their assigned soft body armor, .40 caliber duty weapon and two full magazines for reloads.

Sidearm: The Department standardized our sidearms and each officer is issued a Glock model 22C in .40 caliber, with three high-capacity law enforcement magazines.  The Department provides Winchester 165 grain Ranger SXT ammunition for duty weapons.  No other ammunition is authorized nor permitted to be used.

This standardization has increased proficiency dramatically and has improved training.  Each officer must qualify semi-annually, and each must shoot a minimum of fifty rounds of ammunition each month, which is provided by the Department. 

Patrol Rifle: Current trends of mass violence, related to schools and elsewhere, occur very rapidly and are increasingly perpetrated by suspects with high power weapons.  The rifle is becoming a tool of choice for violent felons and the PISD PD has recognized that the issue sidearm is no match for a rifle at greater than conversational distance.  To evenly match the firepower of suspects, the PISD PD has proactively authorized the Patrol Rifle to be selectively issued to counter heavily armed subjects at any range that is not prudent nor effective with a sidearm.  The patrol rifle is much better suited to  halt aggressive acts with fewer rounds fired more accurately with less chance for over penetration of the projectile.   

The PISD PD issues the Colt M4 rifle in .223 caliber.  This rifle is equipped with an identifying white light, a holographic, electronic sight, three thirty-round magazines and two twenty-round magazines.  The Department provides Winchester 55 grain .223 caliber ammunition for these duty rifles and no other ammunition may be used.  Police Officers who qualify for a patrol rifle will receive an initial 40 hours of standardized training/qualifications from an authorized firearms instructor before they are permitted to carry the rifle on patrol.  Officers assigned patrol rifles must qualify monthly with the rifles in addition to the mandated training with the Glock sidearm.

Emergency response training is mandated for every member of the Department, and is conducted on a monthly basis.  This training may include Active Shooter, First Responder, SWAT tactics, weapons schools, building search techniques, First Aid, and Hostage Negotiations.  Each Officer is expected to maintain their team proficiency and physical fitness through organized training, and through self-initiated and disciplinary training habits.  Officers are required to be proficient with each firearm under their control.  A minimum rating of Sharpshooter is expected and remedial training will be provided as necessary.  Emergency response training is mandated each month as a condition of employment.

The guiding principal for Emergency Response of the PISD Police Department is that EACH and EVERY member of the Department is a member of the team and capable of responding to a threat individually or in concert with any other member of the Department.   We have developed the ability to respond to ANY facility or school in the District and engage any threat, active shooter, or high-risk situation within ten (10) minutes.   We will either resolve the incident or contain the incident until reinforced.

When active shootings/Homicide(s) are in progress the first responding officers shall immediately locate, engage, isolate or eliminate the threat.  In such high risk situations where immediate response is demanded, the utilization of tactical body armor and shields may not be feasible or possible.  The first responder must then rely on sound tactics and spontaneous action based on prior training in order to resolve the incident.

Fire control is an essential discipline during a high risk situation.  No weapons will be fired unless authorized under the Pasadena ISD Police Policies and Procedures, to wit: General Order #5.  Guidelines will be as follows:

There is reasonable cause to believe that the suspect(s) are placing a person or persons in danger of serious bodily injury or death.

If there is reasonable cause to believe that the suspect(s), if not immediately contained, pose a serious threat to the life of another.

A deadly weapon should not be used to prevent offenses that are unlikely to cause death or serious bodily injury.

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1515 Cherrybrook - Pasadena, Texas 77502