20 new peace officers graduate from Central Texas Police Academy

COLLEGE STATION — Twenty new peace officers graduated from the Central Texas Police Academy on June 7, 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 TEEX Director David Coatney, former Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue.
 
The 164th Basic Peace Officer Class began on Feb. 4, 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 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 Brandon Bridgewater with the College Station Police Department and Salutatorian was Jacob Daily from the Jersey Village Fire Marshal’s Office.
 
Most of the new officers have begun their duties with area police departments in College Station, Brenham, La Grange and Texas A&M University, as well as with the Jersey Village Fire Marshal’s Office, Bryan Fire Department, Special Prosecution Unit in Huntsville, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
 
Other members of the academy staff are Kyle McNew, Joe Klinkovsky IV, Justin Leeth, Michael Clark, Robin Crawford, David Church, Erica Hillburn, Caitlyn Keehan and Larry Scott. Guest instructors were also recognized.
 
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.