Austin's educational guardians have been draped in a veil of mourning as the Austin ISD Police Department announced the untimely passing of its beloved officer, Thomas "TJ" Hernandez, who succumbed to a medical emergency on Thanksgiving morning. The heartbreaking news, first shared by the Austin ISD Police Department's Facebook page, recounts the final moments when TJ, as he was affectionately known, was surrounded by a loving family and department Command Staff at South Austin Hospital.
According to the department's Facebook post, Hernandez had devotedly served the Austin ISD community, first as an elementary school clerk and high school security monitor, later fully embracing his law enforcement calling by joining the police ranks. TJ attended CAPCOG Regional Training Academy while also dispatching for the department and graduated from the academy in July 2016 as stated in the department's Facebook post. He was sworn in as a police officer on August 1, 2016, but was unfortunately compelled to hang up his duty belt due to medical issues, only to find his way back to the fold as an esteemed dispatch supervisor this November.
In a reflection of his enduring impact, coworkers revered Hernandez for his "joyful smile and infectious personality" which became a hallmark of his presence throughout the district. The Austin ISD Police call to memory TJ's unwavering dedication, "Thank you for your many years of service to Austin ISD students, staff, and families. Thank you for your honorable duty as a police officer, and for always watching our backs and ensuring officer safety while at the console."
Austin ISD Police implores the community to hold the Hernandez family in their thoughts during these arduous times, "especially today and the coming weeks." As tributes and condolences continue to stream in, the department's solemn vow, "Godspeed, TJ… we have the watch.." as per the Austin I.S.D. Police Department
