Regional Police Academy

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The Lamar Institute of Technology Regional Police Academy is licensed as a police academy by The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The phone number for TCOLE is (512) 936-7700.

The Regional Police Academy has over forty-two years of experience in law enforcement training and specializes in presenting programs of current and future interest to the law enforcement profession. The Police Academy is partially funded under a grant from the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC). All courses offered are certified for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) credit.

The mission of the Regional Police Academy is to provide high caliber, cost-effective professional development opportunities for peace officers, telecommunications, and corrections officers at various levels of the profession. The academy is pleased to offer courses in professional development. Academy staff can also customize courses to meet specific training needs.

The Regional Police Academy satisfies the basic training required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for peace officer licensing. Applicants are required to complete and pass an entrance examination before being considered for acceptance into the Police Academy. The entrance examination is offered periodically throughout the year.

All cadets entering the Police Academy must meet minimum standards for entry. The standards include, but are not limited to, the following:

• be a United States citizen.
• pass a physical examination, including drug screen
• pass a psychological examination
• have never received a dishonorable or other discharge based on misconduct which bars future military service
• at least 21 years of age
• have earned a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed 2 years active duty military service with a honorable discharge
• pass a criminal history and background investigation to determine that the individual:
  • has never been convicted of any domestic violence offense
  • has never been convicted of any Class a Misdemeanor or Felony offense
  • has not been convicted of a Class B Misdemeanor offense within the last 10 years
  • is not currently under indictment for any offense
  • is not currently prohibited by any law from owning or possessing a handgun and ammunition
  • is not prohibited by any law from operating a motor vehicle

The Police Academy is offered each fall and spring semester during the day. A certificate of completion and eighteen semester credit hours (18 SCH) in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement (CJLE) courses will be awarded to those successfully completing the Police Academy. Graduates earning a grade of 'B' or better are eligible to sit for the Texas Peace Officer licensing exam.

All courses in the recommended program of study require a grade of 'B' or better.

Awards

• Basic Peace Officer Certificate

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