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EMS ISD Names First Chief of District Police Department
Publised May 25, 2022
The first chief of police in the newly approved Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Police Department was sworn in by Superintendent Dr. Jim F. Chadwell during the regular monthly board of trustees meeting on May 23.
Veteran law enforcement officer Charles Ramirez has 29 years of service. The U.S. Navy veteran has served the students and families of EMS ISD as the Director of Safety and Security since March 2021, following his retirement as an assistant chief of the Fort Worth Police Department.
“I have been blessed with a long and fulfilling career in police work, and now I am looking forward to this next chapter,” Ramirez said. “I am fortunate to work in a community that I have been a part of for so many years and take this new role very seriously. As a multi-generation family in EMS ISD, my goal is to have our district be one of the safest school districts in the state and nation, and I will take this responsibility to heart each and every day.”
EMS ISD recently received state approval to operate a district police department. Beginning in August 2022, the implementation of the EMS ISD Police Department will increase the number of police officers available to all our campuses to provide additional support at all grade levels. EMS Police will be licensed peace officers through the State of Texas and able to perform all functions of a city or county law enforcement officer, but their work will be tailored to the needs of students, staff, and schools. The district will be hiring and training officers throughout the summer in preparation for the first day of classes in August.
Ramirez, who is a lifelong resident of the EMS ISD area and an alumnus who attended Gililland ES, Wayside MS and Boswell HS, said he is committed to maintaining a safer learning environment by being able to provide an additional layer of safety and support to all district campuses.
“Having our own department will give us more influence over how the officers in the schools are tasked and to whom they are accountable,” he said. “This will give the district more control over their officers’ training and provide consistency in police operations across the district. It also will allow us to define the specific role of the police in our schools and tailor our officers’ approach to the unique needs of an educational environment.”
As part of continuous safety improvement efforts, the district also will fully utilize all grant opportunities available for equipment and supplies including increased security through enhanced door locking features, additional cameras and enhanced camera monitoring, and more canines on campus to detect weapons or illegal substances. These additional measures will further strengthen safety and security measures already in place in EMS ISD as the new police department works with teachers, staff, students and parents to keep #EveryMemberSafe.
For more than a decade, EMS ISD has worked in partnership with the Saginaw and Fort Worth police departments to provide School Resource Officers that assist campuses with safety concerns and protect students and staff. With an EMS Police Department, the district will take over daily school policing in and around its campuses, but will continue to coordinate with local law enforcement for the safety of all.
“Our local law enforcement agencies are critical partners in securing our schools, and they will remain close allies with the district to enhance safety within our school communities,” said Dr. Jim F. Chadwell, Superintendent of Schools. “The creation of a district police department will allow us to uphold our expectations for safety and security in our schools as we continue to add new students in the coming years. I am excited about the possibilities a school-based police department brings to our community.”
The safety of students and staff is paramount in EMS ISD and the implementation of a district police department will make significant strides in our continuous efforts to make our schools and facilities safer for all. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a member of the EMS ISD Police Department, please visit the district Human Resources page for details.