When Rick Goodrich took the helm as Chief of Safety and Security for Boerne ISD, it wasn’t just another chapter in a long career. It was the culmination of decades spent answering the call to serve, lead, and step in when others needed help.
Goodrich’s journey began in 1990 with the United States Air Force. From Desert Storm to Somalia, he found himself in the middle of history. “That was the first time I saw air power used at that scale,” he recalled of Desert Storm. But it was his experience during the 1993 mission in Somalia that reshaped his outlook. “What happens when there is no rule of law?” he asked. “That’s when I knew law enforcement was the right direction.”
That decision led him into federal law enforcement with the DEA, where he spent more than two decades confronting violent crime and international drug trafficking. From gang investigations in the Bronx to counter-narcotics operations in Colombia, Goodrich’s work helped indict members of the FARC, seize millions in cartel funds, and support the rescue of Americans held hostage overseas.
But for Goodrich, the most rewarding chapter of his career began when he accepted the newly created position of Safety and Security Director for Boerne ISD. After the tragedy at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, he was asked to help write the district’s new approach to school safety. He applied for the role and began the job the same week school started.
“This is the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had,” he said. “These kids are incredible.”
When he started, there wasn’t even a rifle in the schools. Today, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Boerne community, officers are equipped with the tools, trauma kits, and training they need. Local foundations, churches, and business leaders have stepped up to support the mission without hesitation.
“We didn’t have what we needed before,” Goodrich said. “But this community didn’t wait. They just asked, ‘What do you need, and how can we help?’”
More than just physical security, Goodrich’s program also emphasizes student wellness. His close partnership with the district’s counseling leadership and local mental health officers has created a rapid-response structure for at-risk students. In his three years with Boerne ISD, the district has not lost a student to suicide or overdose.
“We’re present,” he said. “Not notional.”
Goodrich also plays a statewide role as an adjunct instructor with ALERRT, training other departments in how to respond to active threats. He says what fuels him now is making sure the right people are in place, trained, and equipped to act when they are needed most.
“A lot of people believe they’re going to rise to the occasion when the day chooses them. They make no mistake, the day chooses you. You don’t get to schedule it, and it’s going to be when you’re at your weakest and least prepared.”
That belief in readiness, in stepping up for others, is what connects Goodrich to the mission of Hope for Heroes Texas.
“There are officers I’ve worked with, guys from Austin or San Antonio, who saw things they weren’t prepared to see,” he said. “Hope for Heroes Texas opened its doors and gave them space to reset. If they hadn’t had that, it probably would have ended in self-harm.”
But what struck Goodrich most wasn’t just the impact on officers. It was the impact on their children.
“To have those children see their parents celebrated as heroes. That’s the game changer.”
A Note from Brad Cornell of Hope for Heroes Texas:
“Rick Goodrich is the kind of man we built Hope for Heroes Texas for. He’s lived a life of service, and he continues to pour that into his community today. When we talk about heroes, it’s not just those who wear a uniform. It’s those who keep showing up for others long after the uniform comes off. Rick reminds us what true leadership looks like.”
