BISD hires 8 more officers

Oct. 26—Burleson ISD trustees on Monday night approved the hiring of eight former law enforcement officials. With this hiring, the district completes the first-of-its-kind School Safety Officer program. The program authorizes trained professionals to carry weapons at all elementary campuses in the district.

After the May school shooting in Uvalde and many others, school districts across the state have been looking for ways to strengthen campus safety and security measures. BISD's unique program specifically recruits former law enforcement officials with career experience shown to protect students and staff in the event of a crisis situation.

"Burleson ISD's School Safety Officer program is founded on our core belief that former commissioned peace officers are the most capable security personnel as they are highly trained, skilled, and experienced," Superintendent Bret Jimerson said. "These newly hired School Safety Officers offer the best solution for districts that wish to bolster its safety and security plan by adding personnel to elementary campuses."

The first hires were 30-year Fort Worth Police Department veteran and former homicide detective Curt Brannan and 36-year FWPD veteran and former Gang Intelligence and Detective Sergeant Richard Morris in September. Brannan and Morris assisted in hiring eight additional SSOs, working with the district safety and security committee, including Burleson Chief of Police Billy Cordell, to interview candidates.

Combined, all 10 have over 300 years of expertise with backgrounds in Special Weapons And Tactics, executive and dignitary protection, police intelligence, military police, high intensity drug trafficking enforcement, school resource officer programs, school and city Emergency Operations Plans and more.

Here's a look at each one's background:

John Danna

John Danna is a master peace officer with extensive conflict and crisis prevention training, specializing in de-escalation. Danna began his career serving five years as military police for the U.S. Army, conducting force protection, anti-terrorism, area security, and police intelligence operations. Danna continued his law enforcement experience, serving FWPD for 26 years through various roles, including neighborhood community officer, bike patrol, and motorcycle team.

From 1993-99, Danna was part of a federal task force targeting high violent crime neighborhoods in Fort Worth, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in violent crime. Danna provided security for two presidential conventions outside of Texas and is trained in defensive tactics. He received two Life Saving Awards, two Officer of the Year nominations for outstanding acts in the line of duty, and more than 70 commendations.

An instructor for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Danna's experience includes working for Texas Christian University police. Danna holds an associate of arts degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix.

Jack Goleman

Jack Goleman is a master peace officer with 28 years of experience with the Burleson Police Department, including service as the first School Resource Officer for the BPD. As an SRO, Goleman worked with students at Burleson High School and Hughes Middle School and quickly established relationships with students, faculty and parents.

He also served as a field training officer for seven years, and community policing specialist and public relations officer for five years. He was recognized as the BPD Officer of the Year and earned four Officer of the Year nominations. A BHS graduate, Goleman has accrued 2100 hours of continuing education through TCOLE standards and is a certified instructor for TCOLE and police academies for SRO programs.

Gary Gray

Gary Gray has 25 years of law enforcement experience with the FWPD that includes extensive professional experience in criminal and special investigations supervision as well as command and police patrol. Gray commanded the FWPD Narcotics Unit and was the first commander for the Fort Worth High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Enforcement Group 6 on high-end criminal narcotic investigations and narcotic distribution organization investigations. He also composed and implemented operational plans for high attendance special events and mass casualty incidents.

After retiring from the FWPD as a lieutenant, Gray was contracted to work with the U.S. Army's Counterintelligence Division to identify insider threats on coalition force facilities. He served 11 years in civilian police advisory and counterintelligence support positions in Iraq and Afghanistan and counterintelligence support program management in Kuwait. Gray is a U.S. Marine and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Woody Holman

Woody Holman is a master peace officer with 28 years of experience with FWPD, serving 20 years as a patrol officer and eight years as a school resource officer at middle and high schools.

During his career in Fort Worth, Holman was awarded the Medal of Valor from the City of Fort Worth and the State of Texas for his role in a tragic Fort Worth shooting in 1995 and was named Officer of the Year — South division. He also served as a field training officer with the patrol division for 18 years and participated in multiple active shooter training exercises as an SRO.

After retiring from FWPD, Holman continued working in law enforcement as an SRO with a local school district.

James Ingle

James Ingle is a master peace officer with 31 years of law enforcement experience. Ingle began his career while serving in the U.S. Army, performing site security and guarding high-ranking officers and their families while deployed to Panama, Honduras, and Korea.

Ingle received the National Defense Service Medal for his service and joined the Amarillo Police Department where he served 28 years, beginning as a patrol officer and working in several detective units and as a field supervisor before becoming a sergeant. Ingle was instrumental in launching the APD's Police Explorer Program, providing young adults interested in a law enforcement career with training, competition, service, and practical experiences.

Dietrich Jones

Dietrich "Deet" Jones brings 31 years of experience with the FWPD and 25 years of experience in executive protection, providing dignitary protection for high-profile individuals, including Corretta Scott King.

Jones worked 17 years as a SWAT officer for FWPD, conducting high-risk tactical and surveillance operations, and was an active member of the SWAT team that responded to the Wedgwood Baptist Church shooting. He also served as a patrol officer and missing persons investigator.

As the executive protection officer for Lockheed Martin, he assisted with executive protection for the president and executive leadership team. Jones is the recipient of a Medal of Valor award for a high-risk hostage situation and was named the Special Operations Division Officer of the Year. He received dignitary protection training from the U.S. Military Police School and completed Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Level 1 Active Shooter.

Jones serves on the security team at his church and mentored elementary school students in the Read to Win program, helping to improve their reading skills.

Brett McDonnell

Brett McDonnell is a master peace officer, bringing more than 32 years of law enforcement experience with the Arlington Police Department serving most recently as an APD District Operations Sergeant.

McDonnell served 25 years with SWAT and was a team leader in charge of planning and directing SWAT operations and dynamic callouts. He also served as the K9 unit sergeant, leading three K9 teams and community action team sergeant — formerly known as HEAT — overseeing operations related to surveillance and interdepartmental agency operations.

A recipient of two Medal of Valor awards, McDonnell also received four APD Police Officer awards for going above the call of duty, and three Life Saving Awards. He holds a bachelor of science from the University of Northern Colorado where he played football.

Stacy Singleton

Stacy Singleton is a master peace officer who recently retired from the city of Burleson after 31 years, serving as fire marshal and emergency manager. Singleton holds training certifications for active shooter, civilian response to active shooter, and active attack integrated response.

The recipient of a Live Saving Award and named Firefighter of the Year, Singleton is an Emergency Management Technician and holds CPR and Stop the Bleed certifications. As fire marshal, Singleton served on the BISD Safety & Security committee since 2005 and was instrumental in supporting the district in developing its EOP.

Singleton has participated in multiple active shooter trainings with BISD and BPD, and oversaw the safety and emergency management plan for the building of many BISD schools and facilities. Singleton also developed the City of Burleson's EOP and served as lead in any major disaster or large-scale emergency incident. He is an active member of the Tarrant County Arson Task Force.

"The years of experience, training, and knowledge these School Safety Officers bring to Burleson ISD will greatly benefit our Safety and Security team," said Steve Logan, BISD chief operating officer. "We believe this will be a model program other districts emulate."

For more information, visit the BISD Safety and Security website.