Katy ISD has named 34-year law enforcement veteran David Rider as incoming Chief of Police, the district said in a January 30 press release. The new chief will assume Katy ISD’s top law enforcement post on Monday, February 17.

"Chief Rider’s distinguished career in public education policing and his emphasis on relational law enforcement, with officers as co-educators in schools, is an excellent fit for Katy ISD,” said Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski. “His extensive expertise in school-based law enforcement and his leadership experience in large-scale ISDs are unparalleled in our region.”

Rider most recently served as chief of police for Fort Bend ISD, a post he has held since 2010 for the district of 79,000 students and 83 campuses. Prior to that, he was assistant police chief for Austin ISD, where he served for nearly 13 years. He began his tenure in law enforcement in Kingsville, joining as a patrol officer in 1991 before being promoted to corporal and serving there until 1997.

Chief Rider earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas. He attended the Bill Blackwood Leadership Command College in 1998 and earned his master’s degree in criminal justice management from Sam Houston State University.

“I’m excited to join Katy ISD and build relationships throughout the department and with the stellar students, staff and community of this district,” Rider said. “Our department will work every day to maintain a safe and secure environment for all Katy ISD learners and staff.”

Rider replaces Henry Gaw who has headed the KISD Police Department since October 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. Gaw notified the district in December of his intent to resign in order to pursue other interests, said a spokesperson for Katy ISD in an email to the Katy Times. Gaw, a native Houstonian, began his law enforcement career with the Houston Police Department in 1994 and served there for 26 years, according to the Katy ISD website. Chief Gaw's first police assignment was on patrol, patrolling the north and central neighborhoods of Houston. Chief Gaw ascended through the ranks and was promoted to Assistant Chief of HPD in March 2017.