Texas Forensic Science Academy at TEEX receives additional funding

COLLEGE STATION – When the stakes are this high, getting it right is extremely important. Those who are tasked with the responsibility of processing crime scenes perform critical jobs that are vital to the process of determining innocence or guilt. Many jurisdictions across the state simply do not have the funds available to acquire necessary training. Recognizing this, the Governor’s Office, Texas Criminal Justice Division, has awarded the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) additional funding to extend existing, successful, tuition-free training through the Texas Forensic Science Academy.

The funding also includes provisions to create an online course offering, eliminating travel costs and other expenses associated with more traditional training methods. The result: around 750 more law enforcement officers and non-commissioned personnel in Texas will be able to obtain this training and be better prepared to serve the citizens of our state.

“The Texas Forensic Science Academy program at TEEX receives this funding because we have innovative programs which are taught and managed by people who are passionate about making a difference,” said Cullen Grissom, TEEX Law Enforcement Training Director. “We are seen as good stewards of the funding who annually meet or exceed all expectations and metrics.”

“The funding received through the Governor’s Office is greatly appreciated,” added Christine Ramirez, Texas Forensic Science Academy Coordinator. “We are humbled by their continued support and trust in our mission to positively impact law enforcement and forensic practitioners. We strive to arm them with the knowledge and skills needed to seek truth and fight injustice in our communities.”

CSI Weldon D. Richards, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, had this to say about training offered by the Texas Forensic Science Academy:

“The TEEX Death Investigation (online) course provided great information on how to properly conduct a death investigation. As a result of the course, my knowledge and understanding of the investigator’s role during a death investigation has tremendously increased. I also learned the responsibilities of the Medical Examiner and a familiarization with the roles of the Anthropologist and Entomologist. Thanks to this course I’m now more comfortable on scene and feel as though I do a much better job at documenting the scene, establishing a timeline of events, and collection/preservation of evidence. The course was user friendly, and the interactive sections of the test were awesome! I would definitely recommend the course to anyone aspiring to become an Investigator or Detective, and it’s a great refresher for those already in the field.”

Law enforcement personnel interested in this training can learn more at www.teex.org/forensics

About TEEX

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of law enforcement, emergency response, public works, homeland security and workforce training and exercises, technical assistance, and economic development. Last year, TEEX served more than 169,000 people from every U.S. state and territory and 79 countries worldwide. As part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and. The agency is the home of the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center and also sponsors the state’s urban search and rescue team, Texas Task Force 1. TEEX makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions, and saving lives. TEEX is a member of The Texas A&M University System.