Law enforcement relies on HCC to deliver trained police officers
Apr 4, 2018
The next time you need help, the police officer who shows up may very well have been trained at Houston Community College. More and more, area law enforcement agencies are turning to HCC to help fill the growing demand for trained police officers to replace an aging first responder workforce. The just completed HCC Police Academy Class 17D is one of five academies offered this year to meet law enforcement needs and is one of the program’s largest graduating classes. Class 17D had 39 basic peace officer graduates, with ten female officers heading into an industry where women make up only 15 percent of the workforce.
Over the past year, the basic peace officer program has increased by more than 50 percent. As Class 17D heads into the workforce, a new academy class with more than 60 cadets is starting.
“We are excited about the growth that we are experiencing in the program as we aim to train students, meet the demand for officers, and prepare them for rewarding careers as first responders,” says HCC Public Safety Center of Excellence Dean Johnny Sessums.
Cadets completing the program are highly trained and can expect to find work in law enforcement agencies across Texas. On average, the placement rate for HCC police academy graduates is 92 percent.
The rigorous basic peace officer training program requires cadets to learn law procedures, acquire tactical skills, meet physical fitness standards and pass the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licensing exam. In order to achieve these goals, HCC cadets have an opportunity to train in a state-of-the-art facility that includes hands-on training and instruction in classrooms, as well as an outdoor driving track, firing range and physical fitness space.
Training and course theory are advantages that students participating in an HCC police academy can benefit from. They are also able to engage with experienced law enforcement officers who teach in the program. “Our instructors have years of experience and provide students with firsthand knowledge about expectations, responsibilities, challenges and rewards of working as an officer,” says Sessums.
The program also offers flexible scheduling that enables more students to participate in an academy. Full-time and part-time classes are offered during the day and evenings.
The police training center is located at the Public Safety Center of Excellence on the HCC Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, Houston, TX 77013. The facility offers a state-of-the-art firing range and driving track for interactive training. For more information on public safety programs, click here.