New SBISD Police Chief Chosen

On Jan. 4, 2017, Superintendent of Schools Scott Muri, Ed.D., will swear Bruce Dareing (shown) in as the district’s new police chief.

Spring Branch ISD’s new acting police chief, Bruce Dareing, is no stranger to the school district and local community. He has worked since 2013 as a police officer with SBISD following a U.S. military and police career.

Some years ago, he owned and operated the Dareing Academy of Defense, a martial arts and fitness business.

On Jan. 4, 2017, Superintendent of Schools Scott Muri, Ed.D., will swear Dareing in as the district’s new police chief. He replaces Police Chief Chuck Brawner, who has retired. Dareing has been serving as Assistant Chief in SBISD for several months.

Service at Heart of Chief Brawner’s Career >> 

Based on the many leadership roles he has held, Acting Chief Dareing believes that the SBISD Police Dept. will move forward best as a cohesive, unified team.

“I’ve learned that it takes more than one person to be a leader. It requires a unified team that learns to work together towards a unified goal, and I believe that when a need is seen, you should step up and fill it and take the initiative,” he said.

For almost three decades, he has worked for the Lewisville and Memorial Villages police departments, and as a reserve officer with the SBISD Police Dept.

During his long career, Dareing has served as an investigator, field training officer, SWAT officer and as a police academy instructor. He was police chief in Holland, a small Texas town, too.

As important, Dareing served 24 years in the U.S. Army as a member of its Special Forces group, with skills training in intelligence, weapons and demolitions. He saw combat in Afghanistan with Special Forces unit in 2002 during Operation Enduring Support. He also served as a Special Forces Qualification Course instructor.

He was appointed to Officer Candidate School (OCS). After graduation, he served six years as an armor officer. He also served Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2012, he retired with the rank of captain.

Born in Oklahoma, he was educated in both England and Scotland. His experience includes work as an executive protection officer, cowboy and farrier.

Dareing earned college credits from Oklahoma State and several other north Texas colleges before earning his bachelor of science degree from Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y. He is graduate of Sam Houston State University’s Law Enforcement Management Institute (LEMIT) and member of the Leadership Command College, Class No. 75.

In addition, he is a member of the Clan Campbell Society, the Special Forces Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the U.S. Judo Association. A member of the Texas Sons of the American Revolution, he was honored for his military service in 2009 with the Wounded Warrior Coin.

In addition to a distinguished military career, the new chief of police is focused on the safety and protection of SBISD students, staff and property as a main goal. His team philosophy applies to students, too.

Already, Acting Chief Dareing has adopted the district’s Share-a-Smile program to put officers on campuses getting to know students, working car pool lines, reading to young students, and eating lunches in the cafeteria.

“We need to impact the students’ lives in a positive way by being role models, and whenever possible we need to look beyond the problem at hand and see if there is a root cause that we can give guidance to help solve the issue. We must work hand in hand with the school staff as an integral part of the team,” Dareing said.

He has also expanded the Criminal Investigations Division and encouraged officers to apply to a variety of assignments.