Area law enforcement is reinforcing itself with more certified peace officers, thanks to 17 graduating Laredo Community College cadets who have passed the state certification exam.
The cadets, members of the B-06 basic peace officer class, were honored at a graduation ceremony, hosted by the LCC Regional Police Academy, on Friday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Kazen College Center on the LCC main campus.
In addition to completing the 19-week basic peace officer training program at the LCC South campus, the cadets were recognized for accomplishing a 100 percent pass rate on the Texas Certified Law Enforcement Officer State Examination (TCLEOSE). All 17 cadets who took the exam achieved a passing score and are now Texas-certified peace officers.
The graduating class includes Joel A. Betancourt, Estevan Camarillo, Iv Garza Jr., Fernando M. Hernandez Jr., Ruth Holguin, Joel Jacobo, Robert L. Longoria, Jose A. Lozano, Obed Luera, Jimmy L. Mendoza, Victor M. Muñoz III, Luis A. Ozuna, Jorge E. Ramirez, Diana L. Ruiz, Jose A. Solis, Eduardo Valdivia and Roque Velasco Jr.
“As one of the leading trainers for law enforcement in the state, Laredo Community College is pleased to recognize this group of cadets for completing their law enforcement training and excelling in the state certification exam,” Alfonso Mendiola, Protective Services Department chairperson, said.
Ray Garner, police academy director, also lauded the cadets on their performance in the academy and state exam.
“The cadets should be congratulated for their determination to complete intensive physical training and classroom instruction to pass a challenging state certification examination,” Garner said.
In order to be admitted to the LCC Police Academy, participating cadets must be sponsored by local and regional law enforcement agencies. The B-06 cadets included law enforcement sponsors from the counties of Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg and Starr.
Three special awards were presented during the graduation ceremonies, including the Highest Scholastic Award to Joel Jacobo, the Top Gun Award to Joel Betancourt and the Cadet Mentor Award to Luis Ozuna.
Justice of the Peace Oscar Martinez and Zapata County sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez were the ceremony’s guest speakers.
The 760-hour basic peace officer training program at LCC is comprised of rigorous physical training and study focusing on a variety of topics including the penal code, family violence, code of criminal procedures, firearms training, defensive tactics, emergency driving, patrol procedures, criminal investigating, mechanics of arrest, cultural diversity, history of policing, U.S. and Texas constitution and traffic law.
Registration for the next police academy will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The academy begins Monday, Jan. 22.
For more information about the LCC Police Academy, call 794-4908.
For college students interested in a career with a law enforcement agency, LCC also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice.
For more information, contact the LCC Protective Services Department at 794-4710.
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