28 new peace officers graduate from Central Texas Police Academy

COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) congratulates 28 new peace officers who graduated from the Central Texas Police Academy on June 5, after 18 weeks of comprehensive training. Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons delivered the keynote address at the graduation ceremony, which was held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center in College Station.

Many of the new officers have already begun their duties with area police departments in Bryan, College Station, Navasota, Madisonville and Texas A&M University, as well as Brazos County, Grimes County, Washington County and Madison County Sheriff’s Offices.

The 156th Basic Peace Officer Class began on Feb. 2, tackling topics that ranged from criminal investigations and arrest procedures to firearms and defensive tactics, as well as Texas law and emergency driving techniques. Seventeen graduates who enrolled through TEEX’s partnership with Blinn College will earn 20 hours of college credit.

TEEX Director Gary Sera welcomed the class and their guests to the graduation ceremony, and Cullen Grissom also addressed the graduates. Class #156 awards were presented by Division Director Elizabeth Morris, and Academy Training Manager Lee Santo awarded the certificates.

Class valedictorian was Shawn Dunham of the College Station Police Department; salutatorian was David Grissom of the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office; and the Top Shooter Award went to Michael Spencer of the Texas A&M Police Department.

Other members of the academy staff are Larry Frye, Kyle McNew, Christine Ramirez, Jan Meyer-Brickley, David Church and Robin Crawford. Guest instructors who assist with the academy were also recognized during the ceremony.

The next daytime Basic Peace Officer Course begins Aug. 3, 2015. Learn more.