BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Schools has launched its own police department, appointing Chris Kidd as chief of police.

Kidd, 40, brings 18 years of law enforcement experience. For the last three years he served as chief deputy with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Before that, the Floyd County native worked for the Prestonsburg City Police and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department.

Kidd graduated from both the police academy in Richmond and the Federal Law Enforcement Academy in Glynco, Georgia. He spent about 10 years employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Debord.

He began his new job with the school district Thursday.

“The Martin County School District has created its own independent police department separate from any other government entity,” Kidd said Monday in his new office at Martin County High School. “We are a self-sufficient, self-reliant police department. We have it in our budget to hire four more certified police officers and maybe more to come after that.”

Kidd is already recruiting.

“I believe the advertisement is already in the newspaper,” he said. “I’ll be creating a Martin County Schools Police Department Facebook page and putting the advertisements on there as well. We’re looking for certified police officers to come in and fill the vacancies here at the Martin County Schools Police Department.”

He emphasized that the effort is far more extensive than simply placing officers in schools.

“A lot of people think we’re just throwing resource officers into these schools, but we’re building an entire police department from the ground up,” Kidd said. “That’s infrastructure—vehicles, chain of command, policy and procedure, training. That includes hiring officers, buying weapons to protect these kids, teachers and the community, and upfitting these vehicles. We need to install infrastructure in every school, such as evidence lockers and gun safes. We need to establish a telecommunications infrastructure, including radios and our own frequencies to communicate with and dispatch through 911.”

Despite the scope, Kidd sees the payoff.

“We have a long road in front of us,” he said. “It will be well worth it for not only the kids, teachers and administrative staff of the Martin County School District but the citizens of Martin County. Including me, you’re going to have five additional certified police officers in the county who can help out or respond to major incidents around the county. It’s a positive for everybody, not just the school system but the government, the fiscal court and even the sheriff’s office.”

The department will cover more than classrooms when duty calls. Officers will be on active duty during school hours and present at major events.

“On big trips like a state tournament, Martin County Schools will be accompanied by law enforcement to help protect the students and the staff, no matter where they go,” said Kidd.

He reflected on his first three days.

“So far I’ve done a lot of my work at the board’s office, done a lot of purchasing,” he said. “Also I’ve done a lot of work here at the high school getting an office and setting things up.”

State law requires those purchases.

“The state of Kentucky says you have to have weapons, identification, badges and cruisers,” said Kidd. “I’ve been getting policy and procedure in place, vehicles in place and planning to equip those vehicles by the law. I’ve been setting up weapons. And I have to say the school board has been very efficient and effective in helping me to hit the ground running. I’ve not had to jump through hoops. We’re doing everything by the book and they have been more than helpful in assisting me in getting what I need to do the job that they need me to do.”

Since coming to Martin County in August 2022, Kidd has become familiar with all of the schools. Monday, he met with principals, the bus garage foreman, Superintendent Larry James and administrative staff at the central office.

“I introduced myself to all of them and made them aware that this is a long process,” Kidd said.

He also briefed them on procedure.

“Their first line of reporting is to call the police department, and that’s us,” said Kidd. “Then if we need additional assistance we will reach out to our sheriff’s office or the Kentucky State Police. That’s what the meeting this morning centered on.”

Kidd’s goal is to be a trusted face in the schools and community. He has already been in the high school hallways.

“So far it’s been positive,” he said. “The students haven’t been asking me, but rather the other staff. ‘Wow, we have our own police department? They’re going to be here all the time?’”

He believes the presence of certified officers will deter threats.

“Not just from students but also from anyone on the outside wanting to go into a school and do something,” he said. “Knowing there is a trained, certified police officer who is well-armed to protect these kids could deter them from even wanting to go. Most gun crimes happen in gun-free zones. Now the Martin County School District has certified police officers that are highly trained and able to protect all of the kids and all of the staff.”

Superintendent James said Kidd’s hiring moves the district closer to compliance with HB 63, the 2022 law requiring officers in schools.

“I think Kidd is going to do a great job for us as chief of police,” James said, adding that the district’s priority is safety and security. “The students and the community will feel better. I feel better with him up there at the school. Now we want to get one at every school and we’ll be rolling.”

James said the next officer will work at Martin County Middle School.

“Then if we don’t find more officers we will at least have one on each side of the hill, so to speak,” he said. “One will be close to Warfield Elementary and Kidd is close to Inez and Eden. That isn’t perfect, but it’s an improvement over what we’ve had. We’re moving forward.”