25 new peace officers graduate from Central Texas Police Academy
COLLEGE STATION – Twenty-five new peace officers graduated from the Central Texas Police Academy on Dec. 6, after 18 weeks of comprehensive classroom and hands-on training conducted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) at the RELLIS Campus in Bryan. Keynote speaker was Brig. Gen. Bentley Nettles, Executive Director of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The 165th Basic Peace Officer Class began on Aug. 5, tackling topics that ranged from criminal investigations and arrest procedures to firearms and defensive tactics, as well as Texas law and emergency driving techniques. The entire class passed the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) licensing exam prior to graduation.
The ceremony was held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at Texas A&M University, and guests were welcomed by Dr. John M. Ray, Director of TEEX’s Institute for Law Enforcement and Protective Services Excellence. The graduates were also addressed by Academy Training Manager Lee Santo, and Training Manager Larry Frye awarded the graduation certificates.
Class Valedictorian was Spencer Chance with the College Station Police Department and Salutatorian was Emily Kordzik with the College Station Police Department.
Most of the new officers have begun their duties with area police departments in College Station, Navasota, Giddings, Hearne and Texas A&M University, as well as with the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and Grimes County Sheriff’s Office.
Other members of the academy staff are Kyle McNew, Joe Klinkovsky IV, Justin Leeth, Michael Clark, David Church, Valerie Albarado, Caitlyn Keehan, Larry Scott and Paris Fregia.
Partner agencies recognized were: Brazos County 911, Brazos County Constable Pct. 1, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, Brazos County District Attorney, Bryan Police Department; College Station Fire Department, College Station Police Department, Conroe Fire Department, Giddings Police Department, Grimes County Sheriff’s Office, Navasota Police Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Texas A&M University Police Department.
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.