Safety and Security First

St. Mark’s campus is 40 acres of nonstop activity. More than a thousand faculty, staff, parents, and students arrive every weekday, while athletics, fine arts, and other events keep the campus alive on nights, weekends, and even over holiday breaks. Overseeing the safety of everyone on campus is a dedicated team of seven full-time security professionals, four of whom are former Dallas Police officers with a combined 117 years of police experience. These professionals, along with nearly a dozen uniformed DPD officers keep a close eye over the campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Under the leadership of Dale Hackbarth, St. Mark’s Director of Security and a 28-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department and SWAT Team, the School continually seeks ways to ensure the safety of everyone at 10600 Preston Road. One crucial element of this plan is maintaining a strong partnership with the Dallas Police Department and local responders. For 15 years, Dale and his team have welcomed the DPD SWAT Team to campus over the summer for a full day of training exercises. The empty facilities on campus provide a valuable opportunity for police officers to train in an actual school setting, and the training gives SWAT officers a chance to become familiar with St. Mark’s campus.

“These trainings are valuable for both the officers and the School as it provides the officers with basic and necessary information, such as how to gain access to the School, where to turn off utilities, and how to find their way around the campus,” said Dale Hackbarth.

Thirty officers participated in the summer training on campus, which covered scenarios including hostage rescue, barricaded persons, and active shooters. Officers ran through these trainings in full tactical gear, though no live ammunition was ever used. The SWAT team also spent time practicing with a police robot and remote video cameras.

“This training was advantageous as it allowed our team to contend with the multiple entry and exit points that we would have to contend with in the event a tragedy occurred at the School,” said Lt. Mark Villarreal, an officer with Dallas SWAT.

Planning for any and all possibilities is a constant priority, and Dale and his team continually strive to make the community feel safe as well as welcome. As Dale puts it, “We want a community where kids have the freedom to walk about the campus, learn, and play without parents having to worry about their safety. Our main goal as a team is to observe, to be diligent, and to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

St. Mark’s security team’s dedication to providing a safe and secure environment was recognized recently by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security. St. Mark’s was one of three high schools in the nation presented with a Facility of Merit for Safety and Security Award, which “recognizes a facility that has performed above and beyond normal operations to demonstrate an innovative approach to enhancing safety and security.”

Read more about St. Mark’s focus on campus security in the Winter 2018 issue of The Pride magazine.