While teaching forensic science at Rider High School, Autumn Thames decided to go through the Wichita Falls Police Department Citizens Academy in hopes of making contacts within the police department that would be beneficial for her forensic science classes and students. That decision turned out to be a life-changing one for Thames, who recently joined the Vernon Police Department with the rank of lieutenant and will also serve as the Vernon ISD Director of Safety & Security, as well as be the SRO at McCord Elementary.
After completing the Citizens Academy, Thames continued to go on ride-a-longs with the Wichita Falls PD on Friday nights and the weekends. A couple of months into the ride-a-longs, a police officer made a comment that opened Thames eyes.
“The officer said, ‘Autumn if you’re going to keep going on ride-a-longs why don’t you just become a police officer so you can get paid for it’, and that kind of hit me,” she explained. “I had loved going through the Citizens Academy and the first time I ever sat in the patrol car it just felt right, so I thought about it for a little bit and decided I was going to go through the police academy.”
While continuing to teach, the Southern California native went through the Vernon College Police Academy and graduated in 2017. With both a bachelor degree from Colorado State University and a master’s degree from California State University in San Bernardino in education, Thames combined the two careers and began teaching criminal justice.
She became an officer with the Archer City Police Department, and later the Olney PD, while continuing to teach. In 2022, Thames was named the CTE Teacher of the Year for WFISD. She was also the SRO and taught criminal justice for City View ISD, before being promoted to detective with the Olney PD, who’s police chief at the time, Dan Birbeck, now serves in that same capacity in Vernon, in 2024.
“I’ve known Chief Birbeck since 2020,” Thames said. “I started at the Olney PD just a few months before he was named chief there.”
Thames, who has her Master Peace Officer and School Based Law Enforcement certifications, enjoyed working as a detective, and even served as the interim police chief in Olney after Birbeck resigned, but something didn’t feel right.
“I missed being at school,” she explained. “When I was a teacher I remember me and other teachers wondering why we had to do this or do that during a drill, but now as a police officer I know the whys. Having both perspectives – as a teacher and police officer – I want to be the bridge between both worlds, and make things easier to understand.”
Vernon ISD administration had been discussing placing an SRO at McCord Elementary, and establishing the new Director of Safety & Security position offered the perfect opportunity to basically kill two birds with one stone.
“This newly-established position reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all of our students, staff, and visitors across our district,” VISD Interim Supt. Dr. Blaise Boswell said. “The district is lucky to have Lt. Thames join us. In this role, she will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of district safety and security, including emergency preparedness, crisis response protocols, security systems and infrastructure, staff training, and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency services.”
Although the paperwork and reports that have to be done will ensure plenty of desk time for Thames, she will make sure to be out around the campus and students every day.
“This is my first time to work at an elementary school, but I’m enjoying the younger kids,” she said. “They’re so positive and refreshing. I will be greeting kids outside every morning; walking the halls checking to make sure doors are locked; in the cafeteria during lunches; outside during recess; and out around the busses in the afternoon to make sure the kids get away from school safely. I want the kids to feel comfortable around law enforcement and to have a good attitude toward law enforcement.”
Last week was Thames’ first week in her role with VISD, but her mind is already working on ways to help the district.
“I know of a couple of grants that VISD could apply for and hope to start working on those applications soon, and I have drills I would like implement next year,” she said. “I’m just happy and excited to be here, and want to help make Vernon ISD one of the area’s best examples of what a safe and secure school district looks like.”