Students and staff in the Highlands School District are honoring their fallen police chief a year after his death.
Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire was shot and killed in the line of duty on Jan. 2, 2022, while pursuing a wanted subject — exactly four years after he was sworn into the role.
Now, the Highlands School District is honoring him by making Jan. 3 “Chief McIntire Day.”
McIntire was a 1994 graduate of Highlands High School before serving his community as the Brackenridge police chief.
“He was always at the buildings, obviously he was a parent in the district. He was present, even though we have our school police officers. He made it a point to visit our buildings all the time as well,” said superintendent Monique Mawhinney.
School buses adorned with black ribbons dropped off students wearing blue on their shirts, their shoes, and even their hair.
“We support the police 100%. We’re always here to support anything they do, and we thank them and appreciate them,” said Dawn Howells, Highlands Elementary School secretary.
Howells’ grandchildren -- 4th grader Brantley, and his younger sister, Bayley, wore special Chief McIntire shirts for the first time on Wednesday.
“They have the officer kneeling in front of the cross and the flag. My daughter made those special just for today to honor him,” Howells said.
Mawhinney said McIntire’s father is a longtime employee of the Highlands School District.
“Lee, who is an amazing man, is one of our security officers. He’s been here for a very long time. We want to honor him as well,” Mawhinney said.
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