Van Alstyne ISD new police chief

Van Alstyne, Texas (KXII) -Van Alstyne ISD announced the hiring of Jeff Burge as the district’s first Chief of Police.

Burge said he was ready to take on this role and create the school district department.

“The safety and security of our students and staff is our district’s top priority,” Burge said.

For months, the school district has been working on creating its own police department.

“Over the summer, the board and the superintendent decided to create their own ISD department,” he said.

Ordering equipment and battling delays Chief Jeff Burge said he was building his department from the ground up.

“Buying equipment, buying vehicles, hiring staff, creating policy, all those things that go into building a law enforcement agency. I’m starting from scratch so all of those things are necessary,” Burge said.

The police department’s goal is to have an officer stationed at each of the district’s campuses.

“We currently have four campuses, one high school that’s under construction, so once we move into the high school, we’ll immediately start building another elementary school,” Burge said. “The goal is to have one agent per campus within a few years.”

Connie Rhoades has two grandchildren at elementary school Bob and Lola Sanford and said she already feels a sense of relief.

“Yes, I think that would be very helpful,” Rhoades said.

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