Midway ISD Police Chief Sworn In; Newly Established Department Officially Certified
The Midway ISD Board of Trustees administered the Oath of Office to its first-ever Police Chief, Jeff Foley, following the recent certification of the Midway ISD Police Department by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), marking the official establishment of the department.
“We are excited to welcome Chief Foley into this new role and to celebrate our TCOLE certification,” Midway ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen said. “These milestones reflect our unwavering commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff.”
Having its own police department will enhance the district’s current safety measures, allowing officers to focus solely on school-specific safety issues, provide continuous on-campus security throughout the year, and train on issues and areas that affect Midway ISD.
Chief Foley, previously a School Resource Officer with the district, brings 18 years of experience and a strong dedication to community policing. He served 17 years with the Hewitt Police Department, 10 of those as SRO/Lead SRO at Midway High School. He earned his bachelor’s in criminal justice administration and his master’s in public administration from Tarleton State University.
“I'm thrilled to be named Chief of Police for Midway ISD,” Foley said. “Our goal is simple: to keep everyone safe while feeling welcome at school. We're all about building a department based on trust and safety. I can't wait to build our amazing team and continue working with the whole Midway ISD family to make this happen."
The TCOLE certification process involves rigorous training and compliance with state law enforcement standards, including in-depth policy reviews and site inspections. With TCOLE certification, the Midway ISD Police Department plans to begin operations Aug. 1 and will have four officers—two at Midway High School and one each at Midway Middle School and River Valley Middle School—in addition to Chief Foley. Elementary campuses will be staffed with civilian Campus Safety Specialists that will work and train within the police department.
The district is now focused on an intensive recruitment process to hire qualified officers and security specialists, prioritizing candidates with a strong background in school safety.
The Midway ISD Board of Trustees approved the process of establishing a district police department in spring 2024 after partner law enforcement agencies requested to end or reduce contracts due to staffing issues. The board heard details at its February board meeting and approved the first slate of required policies in May.
For more information about the Midway ISD Police Department visit www.midwayisd.org/police.
Midway ISD PD was approved by TCOLE on 07/01/2024.
