The Corpus Christi Police Department will have 18 graduates from the 70^th Police Academy session celebrated in a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 11, 2012 at 2:00pm in the Selena Auditorium.

The graduates from the academy accepted a tremendous responsibility of police work which began with an application process almost one year prior to this graduation. Applicants for the police academy must score a minimum of 70% or higher on a written examination. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license upon filing an application and a valid Texas license before hiring and must have a driving record that reflects driving habits that are consistent with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Applicants must meet the City requirements regarding traffic violations or traffic collisions. Applicants must have a High School diploma or a GED with 12 hours at an accredited college with at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States, after at least 24 months of active duty service. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen. Their vision must be at least 20/100 in each eye correctable to 20/40 and normal color and peripheral vision. Possess hearing with less than a 40-decibel loss in each ear. Applicants must never have been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade B misdemeanor, or a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years from the date of court order. Applicants must not currently or recently used illegal drugs or currently or recently used intoxicating beverages excessively. Applicants must not make any false statements of fact; be deceptive by statement or omission in the pre-screening application, interview, background investigation, and polygraph or by any means in any part of the selection process.

Each applicant must then complete an entrance process that includes a background check, a polygraph examination, an oral board interview, a psychological evaluation, a complete physical examination by a physician, and then a drug screen. Not all qualified applicants are accepted into the Police Academy. Most are not selected because of the limited quantity of positions approved for hire. Each Academy session has a unique quantity of cadets approved by the city of Corpus Christi based on the unique circumstances each hiring session.

The most qualified applicants selected to be cadets then begin their career in the Corpus Christi Police Academy. The Corpus Christi Police Department Training Academy is located at 4510 Corona Dr. Cadets attend classes Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, some nighttime and weekend functions are a part of the required curriculum. Cadets do not reside at the academy and must commute to class daily.

The Police Academy is composed of several components primarily with classroom instruction. Cadets are instructed on the policies and procedures of the Corpus Christi Police Department and how officers function on duty. Classroom instruction on, criminal, juvenile, traffic, and civil law is provided during the 27-week academy. Cadets are expected to maintain a high level of academic standards and must make a 75% or above on all academy tests. Cadets must pass each written exam and/or skills test administered to successfully complete the academy. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (T.C.L.E.O.S.E.) Basic Peace Officer’s licensing exam must be passed in order to qualify for graduation and state licensing as a Texas Peace Officer.

A second component of the training includes firearm instruction. Cadets are trained with the standard issued police weapon at the Corpus Christi Police Department firing range and must pass department qualifications to successfully complete the academy. Cadets are also trained to use a shotgun and other law enforcement tools.

Another component of the academy is physical training. Cadets are required to maintain themselves in excellent physical condition through a strict course of running, weight lifting, and exercises designed to enhance the body’s flexibility and endurance. Cadets must pass the academy physical fitness test with an overall average of 70% to successfully complete the academy.

The cadets that graduate on May 11 have successfully completed the 27 week Academy program that has equipped them with extensive education, training, and skills required to serve as Corpus Christi Police Officers. The next phase of training is the 28 week Field Training Officer Program in which new officers are assigned to work alongside selected experienced officers who facilitate the application of knowledge and skills the new officers acquired in the Training Academy.

Upon successful completion of the field training program, the officers will be assigned to serve in the Community Policing Division where they will perform various patrol duties that include answering calls for service, enforcement of laws, apprehension of violators, investigating crimes, resolution of family disturbances, as well as traffic enforcement.  After completion of 60 months of service, officers become eligible to serve in many specialized sections within the Police Department. These include the Criminal Investigation Division and Special Services Division. Officers will be assigned to investigate homicides, robberies, burglaries, thefts, organized crime, narcotics, auto theft, sexual assaults and other various other types of criminal activity.

Corpus Christi Police Officers are provided the opportunity to attend specialized schools to help meet goals and full potential. Promotional opportunities are competitive and available to all persons who wish to pursue a supervisory role.

The Corpus Christi Police Department congratulates the graduates of the 70^th Corpus Christi Police Academy session. The graduates are:

Samantha Baldwin (Top Academic Award recipient); Imelda Benavides; Gilbert Cantu (Top Physical Fitness Award recipient); Jorge Coello; Alonzo DeLaGarza; Jorge Fernandez; Irene Gonzalez; Daniel Guajardo; Gabriel Gutierrez; Eric Hemping; BJ Hurley; Philip Martinez (Top Driving Award recipient); Allan Miller (Top Gun Award recipient); Sam Mitchell; Paul Navarro; Joshua Newman; Eduardo Tagle; and Jason Wicks.

The Matthew Thebeau Memorial Award was presented to Jorge Fernandez for the leadership abilities, service to the community, and keen humor displayed throughout the police academy. The Matthew Thebeau Memorial Award is in the memory of Corpus Christi Police Officer Matthew Thebeau who was killed in the line of duty in 2008. A $500 cash award accompanies the Thebeau Award for the purpose to purchase equipment the recipient may require in the capacity to serve as a patrol officer.

The Director of Training is Captain John Houston and his training staff includes:

Senior Officers Robert Chapa; Doc Ellis; Denise Pace; Travis Pace; Joseph Piedra; and Karl Wright.

The guest speaker for the graduation ceremony is the Honorable Sandra Watts, Judge 117^th District Court. The Corpus Christi Police Department congratulates and recognizes the tremendous accomplishments of the 70^th Corpus Christi Police Academy Class.