Spring Branch ISD Featured News

During National Police Week, May 15 - 19, SBISD is celebrating the brave men and women who serve our community daily!

The SBISD Police Department (SBISD PD) is made up of 55 officers, 13 staff members and four K-9s who provide law enforcement services to all SBISD campuses and facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These men and women are onsite officers, investigators, dispatchers, patrol officers, K-9 handlers and more. In honor of National Police Week, we met with a few SBISD officers to learn more about what they do and why they serve. 

Officer Luan Ho is an onsite officer serving at Spring Branch Middle School. Officer Ho has been a police officer for five and a half years and has been with SBISD since 2021. 

Why did you choose to join SBISD’s police force?

“I love kids! Having five children myself, I love building relationships with students and getting to know who they are as people, this allows me to do proactive policing. Middle school can be a weird time for students, learning about each other and starting a more rigorous academic program, so I like that this is proactive policing rather than reactive.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“This school has taken me in as one of their own and has made me feel like family. The teachers, administrators and students all have made me feel welcome, and that allows me to be the best I can be daily while I do this job. It feels like I’ve even adopted a few kids, from hearing their stories to interacting with them in the hallways, the aspect of relationship building is great.”

Officer Reginald Denson and Officer Taylor Bryant are currently serving as onsite officers at Spring Woods High School. Officer Denson has been with SBISD for almost three years and Officer Bryant has been with SBISD for two years. 

Why did you choose to join SBISD’s police force?

Denson: “I previously worked probation in another county at their juvenile detention center, but I always wanted to do more and didn’t see any more growth opportunities where I was. Since I was in college I wanted to work with kids, with students. I joined the police academy and thought to myself, where would I be most impactful? I ended up working here as a school police officer.”

Bryant: “Prior to being in law enforcement, I was in education for 10 years. Before SBISD, I was a Deputy Constable at Precinct 6. I always wanted to be a police officer and work in education, so this gives me the opportunity to do both.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

Denson: “Our job is 80% counseling and building relationships with students, that’s what Officer Bryant and I both love. They see us as another administrator, but we’ve had to work to build these relationships. A great day for me is when everyone behaves and things run smoothly. However, we will always do our job to the best of our ability when called to do so.”

Bryant: “In the school walls, our job is mostly counseling students and being a role model. I love helping students matriculate through school. I want to help them the same way I was helped when I was in school. Our priority is to protect and serve, but we also want to give back to these students.”

Criminal Investigative Division (CID) Investigative Officer Uhura Sumbry has served SBISD for 17 years. Her expertise in mental health has made her a valuable asset to SBISD PD, allowing her to work with students of all ages as a mentor, role model and authority figure. 

Why did you choose to join SBISD’s police force?

“I started off patrolling the streets, but dealing with adults all day compared to coming here [SBISD], I see the definite need with students and the ability to have a larger impact. Here, there's an opportunity to mentor students, be a role model, empower students to be the best they can be, and even educate students on being good citizens.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“Nothing is routine about police work. My favorite part about serving in SBISD is making a positive impact on today's youth. I also have a unique opportunity to represent a double demographic being a police officer who is black and female. I think I have a very unique opportunity to make a positive impact.”

Amelia Barrera is the SBISD PD Records Clerk and one of the eight dispatchers who help direct calls daily. Barrera has been with SBISD since being assigned to Valley Oaks Elementary in 1998 and has become a go-to person for the entire force. 

Why did you choose to join SBISD’s police force?

“After about a year working for SBISD as a dispatcher, I learned what all the police force did. The officers became MY officers, their safety became MY priority. The officers would tell me that I was their line of defense as the dispatcher and person who was directing them to the situations that would arise. I became all the officers had, offering them information and making sure they were good in every situation. They are my priority. I always tell them, doesn’t matter how long I’ve known them or if they are new to the department, but I always tell them to be careful out there. I learned to love what I do because of why I do it.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“My favorite part of my job is what I do because of what I can see, what outcome we get daily. The officers are able to do what they do because of the support around them, if one officer is needing assistance, there is always someone to help. As the records clerk, I also get to know the officers really well. I ensure that reports are correct, and sometimes can even tell who wrote the report by their handwriting.”

Officer Nikeyvea McMiller-West has served as a police officer for a total of seven years, all of them being in SBISD. Serving the entire community as a patrol officer, she values her ability to see every part of the district, every day.

Why did you choose to join SBISD’s police force?

“Prior to joining SBISD’s police force, I worked for three years as a detention officer in the county jail. Working in a jail and seeing young offenders made me think, maybe if I joined a school district I could reach the youth population before they end up in jail or juvenile detention. The youth are our future, I want to protect them.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“My favorite part of the job is knowing that even if I’m arresting someone or having to manage a bad situation, the students still know I’m treating them with respect. Even in bad situations, everyone is still human. 

I know the work I’m putting in is going to good use. I also serve as a certified Mental Health Officer. I know I can make a difference through mental health advice and being a counselor to students. I just know I have the opportunity to make a difference.”

Thank you, SBISD PD, for all you do every day for Every Child! 

To learn more about the department or find out how to serve, visit www.springbranchisd.com/about/sbisd-police-department.