The Crowley ISD Board of Trustees approved hiring Le'Shai Maston as the district's police chief.

Maston, who has nearly 20 years of experience with the Dallas Police Department, also has served as Chief of Police for Lancaster ISD Police Department, was a reserve sergeant for the Ennis ISD Police Department and currently serves as a police officer for the Dallas County Community College District Police Department.

Crowley ISD trustees voted in April to begin forming a school district police department. As part of a phase-in plan, the district will hire its own chief of police and officers while maintaining agreements for school resource officers with the Crowley and Fort Worth police departments over the next two budget years.

A growing number of school districts across Texas and the nation are creating their own police departments to help provide a safe and secure learning environment.

With a district police department, Crowley ISD will have control over hiring officers with the qualities, training and experience that support the district's goals and values.

Recently, the district conducted a series of "Community Conversations" with students, staff and community members about officers serving in schools. Students panelists spoke about their desire to build strong relationships with the officers who help keep them safe in school. Hear what students had to say in the videos below.