A City United: Wylie Police Association Presents District With Special Challenge Coin

A special coin has made its way to Wylie ISD, one that will highlight achievement, support students and further strengthen the bond between local law enforcement and schools.

On behalf of the Wylie Police Association (WPA), Wylie Police Department Detectives Joshua Rountree and Matt Tallo presented Superintendent Dr. David Vinson with the first Wylie ISD Challenge Coin–launching a new initiative to recognize students for their positive actions and good deeds while also raising funds to directly benefit them.

The Wylie ISD Challenge Coin is rich in symbolism. The Wylie ISD Challenge Coin is filled with meaningful symbolism. One side features the Wylie Police Department emblem, while the other showcases the logos of Wylie High and Wylie East, with the schools’ colors—maroon and navy—proudly displayed on both sides. The phrases “AHMO” and “DUBEAST” honor each campus, while the tagline “A City United,” serves as both a nod to the spirited Crosstown Showdown and a reminder of the unity that defines the Wylie community.

A challenge coin is a small, specially designed coin or medallion featuring an organization's insignia or emblem. Traditionally distributed among military and law enforcement groups, challenge coins honor outstanding achievements and build camaraderie. Stuart McCoy, president of the WPA, hopes the new Wylie ISD Challenge Coins will foster a sense of community while recognizing students for their positive actions and good deeds.

“We want to show that the police officers and the civilian staff are more than just officers, clerks and dispatchers,” McCoy said. “Sometimes it’s hard to communicate that we are people too. We are part of the community and want to be role models for the kids.”

The WPA is still working on plans for the distribution of the challenge coins.

“They will be sold online, however, we want to give citizens of Wylie first dibs,” McCoy said. “Challenge coins are a big deal with collectors. We don’t want to put them online just yet so people outside of Wylie don’t buy them all up.”

McCoy said that they are exploring other options for distributing the coins, including providing a handful to each principal to recognize students who go above and beyond. The association is also considering using proceeds from the coin’s sales to award bikes to students with perfect attendance. Ultimately, the Wylie ISD Challenge Coin will benefit students, with the specific programs and opportunities it supports evolving to meet students’ needs over time.

The Wylie ISD Challenge Coin is the second coin to be issued, outside of the police department, following the Xander Wade Memorial Coin. Funds from the sale of the Wade Memorial coin help provide scholarships for Wylie ISD students.

“The focus [of these Wylie ISD coins] is to give back to the community,” Rountree said.