The district holds a goal of uniting all its schools under one police department. With the recent joining of two new School Resource Officers on school grounds as of October, the campus began the transition process to become the first secondary campus to switch fully to the LISD police department.

“Given the rising concerns around school safety, our legislators determined that having armed security at each school was a necessary step,” LISD Chief of Police Shā Rogers said. “The presence of SROs helps ensure a safer environment for students, staff, and the broader community.”

Locke worked as a motorcycle officer for the Austin PD for over 23 years, and Peters spent 20 years at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office as a K9 officer and a member of the Special Response Team. 

“I came to Vandegrift because I wanted to help make more of an impact in the immediate community that I live in,” Locke said. “I wanted to explore a different style of policing, more community based.”

According to principal Charlie Little, the only visible difference will be that the officers are employees of the district, with LISD vehicles, uniforms, and ATVs. 

“Our staff and students can continue to provide a welcoming environment for our officers and build strong relationships that will help keep us all safe,” Little said. “Students should continue to reach out to administration and our SROs with any concerns or tips that help prevent issues and protect staff and students.”

Leading the LISD police force, Rogers became the Chief of Police after serving in school-based law enforcement since 2014. 

“Over time, I felt a strong calling to expand my impact beyond the school setting,” Rogers said. “Becoming Chief of Police provided a natural opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, allowing me to share my commitment to youth and the broader community on a larger scale.”

According to Little, the goal of the LISD police force is to shift away from the four police departments serving the district — Travis County PD, Cedar Park PD, Leander PD, Austin PD — to one department to increase consistency, communication, and efficiency across schools.

“Leander ISD stands out as a family-oriented organization that truly values and supports its staff,” Rogers said. “What sets it apart is the strong sense of community and the commitment to professional growth and development, making it an exceptional place to work and thrive.”