COLLEGE STATION – Twenty-nine new peace officers graduated from the Central Texas Police Academy Basic Peace Officer Course on Dec. 4, after 18 weeks of comprehensive online and hands-on training conducted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Keynote speaker was Police Chief Billy Couch of the College Station Police Department.
The 167th Basic Peace Officer Class began on Aug. 3, tackling topics that ranged from criminal investigations and arrest procedures to firearms and defensive tactics, as well as Texas law and emergency driving techniques.
Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the ceremony was held digitally by Zoom and YouTube. Guests were welcomed by Scott McCollum of TEEX’s Institute for Law Enforcement and Protective Services Excellence. The graduates were also addressed by Academy Training Manager Lee Santo, and instructor Joe Klinkovsky IV awarded the graduation certificates.
Class Valedictorian was Nathan Stell with the Texas A&M University Police Department and Salutatorian was Byron Gray with Throckmorton County Sheriff’s Office.
Most of the new officers have begun their duties with area police departments in Bryan, College Station, Brenham, Rockdale and Texas A&M University, as well as the College Station Fire Marshal’s Office. The new officers also joined Sheriff’s Offices in Brazos County, Burleson County, Trinity County, Throckmorton County and Grimes County.
Partner agencies recognized were: Brazos County 911, Brazos County Constable Pct. 1, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, Brazos Valley Crime Stoppers, Bryan Police Department, College Station Police Department, Grimes County Sheriff’s Office, Robertson’s County Sheriff’s Office, Burleson County Sheriff’s Office, Conroe Fire Department, Navasota Police Department, Hearne Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas A&M University Police Department and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
About the Central Texas Police Academy
The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) operates the Central Texas Police Academy, which began in 1953 as the Texas Municipal Police School. The Academy’s Basic Peace Officer Course is conducted by the Institute for Law Enforcement and Protective Services Excellence at the Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas. Through an agreement with Blinn College, cadets who complete the TEEX Basic Peace Officer Course can earn 20 hours of college credit toward an Associate in Applied Science degree.