Area law enforcement is arming itself with more certified peace officers thanks to 18 graduating Laredo Community College cadets who have passed the state certification exam.
The cadets, members of the A-06 basic peace officer class, were honored at a graduation ceremony, hosted by the LCC Regional Police Academy, on Friday, June 16, at 6 p.m. in the Kazen College Center on the main campus.
Zapata County sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. will be the ceremony’s guest speaker.
In addition to completing the 19-week basic peace officer training program at the LCC South campus, the cadets will be recognized for accomplishing a 100 percent pass rate on the Texas Certified Law Enforcement Officer State Examination (TCLEOSE). All 18 cadets who took the exam achieved a passing score and are now Texas-certified peace officers.
The graduation class includes Jesus E. Gutierrez, Humberto Frausto Jr., Jesus Dominguez Jr., Abelardo Abrego, Ricardo R. Garza, Damon F. Reeves, Edgar E. Hernandez, Angel D. Barrera, Lazaro M. De Jesus, Conrad J. Hein, Ruben Cardenas, Ricardo Flores, Santiago A. Aguilar, Amelia E. Lugo, Francisco J. Garcia, Leslie A. Castillo, Jose R. Cantu and Juan M. Garcia 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.
In order to be admitted to the LCC Police Academy, participating cadets must be sponsored by local and regional law enforcement agencies.
This class included sponsorships by the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office, Laredo Police Department, Webb County Constable Precincts 1 and 2, Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the El Cenizo Police Department.
Three special awards were presented during the graduation ceremonies, including the Academic Achievement Award and Cadet Mentor Award to Damon Reeves, and the Top Gun Award to Ricardo Garza.
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.
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 by calling 794-4710.
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