Laredo College proudly worked alongside the Laredo Police Department (LPD) to host the “Frontier to the Future: 175 Years of Policing in Laredo” exhibit at the Martha Fenstermaker Memorial Visual Arts Gallery. Throughout the summer, gallery visitors will have a chance to take in experiences and stories from one of Texas’ oldest police departments and visit the “Fallen Heroes” exhibit. 
Previously situated at the Border Heritage Museum, the LPD exhibit is now proudly displayed at Laredo College, and will greet visitors with a classic Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser through its last day on Aug. 28. The exhibit is free and open to the community. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
“To be able to see the history behind our police department, it’s an honor to house it for the summer, and I’m grateful to have it exhibited here,” LC Art Professor Mary Provence said. “We have our Forensic Science and Homeland Security Studies programs here, and so many of our students will be fascinated when they visit this exhibit.”
The exhibit is split into different sections that dive deep into LPD’s history, including major cases, advances in law enforcement technology, a memorial exhibit for fallen police officers and more. LPD Investigator and Public Information Officer Joe E. Baeza said the exhibit is a heartfelt tribute to generations of law enforcement in Laredo.
As curator, Baeza encouraged the community to visit and learn the rich history shaped in part by families of police officers over the decades. From uniforms to forensic sets, families contributed pieces to the museum for an in-depth look at LPD’s more than 175-year evolution.
One of the most awe-inspiring pieces is “Badge No. 1,” issued in 1950 and worn by Officer Guillermo Gutierrez.