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Graduation for the 124th class of the Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy (PRLEA) at Amarillo College will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Thursday, March 10) at the Oasis Southwest Baptist Church, 8201 Canyon Dr.

Each of the 20 graduates have passed their Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) state licensing exams and are now eligible to go to work as peace officers across the state of Texas. Many are already employed by city and county departments of law enforcement.

The 124th academy class began on Oct. 5, 2021, lasted five and a half months and incorporated 800 clock hours of training. The Basic Peace Officer Course consists of 42 sections of instruction, including the Texas Penal Code, and focuses on such topics as defensive tactics, firearms, emergency vehicle operation, crisis intervention, traffic law, physical fitness, and arrest, search and seizure.

Coordinator Tyler Smith said, “This is a very demanding academy, both mentally and physically, and all of these classes create the foundation for each recruit’s career.”

The Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy’s curriculum is designed in accordance with TCOLE to provide the recruits with the knowledge and understanding of the challenges that they will face as peace officers upon graduation.

Anyone desiring to become certified as a peace officer in the state of Texas must complete a basic peace officer course. “These recruits are now ready to take to the streets and start the next learning phase as they enter the field training programs with their departments,” Smith said.

The first Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy class was conducted in 1968 with nine recruits. That inaugural class lasted less than one month and was comprised of only 150 classroom hours.

The Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy is part of the Criminal Justice Programs at Amarillo College. Two academies are conducted each year, and financial assistance is available to those who qualify. Anyone interested in learning more about the PRLEA is asked to call 806-354-6081 or visit www.actx.edu/cj.

Graduating tonight:
China Alexander
Joshua Buck
Jacob Cochran
Jack Garrett
Braxton Grady
Malachi Hinojosa
Joann Jacquez
Chris LaCario
Jacob Lule
Jonathan Marquez
Edwin Allen Mendez
Jeanina Parvin
Shawn Polite
Hector Ramirez
Jacqueline Ramirez
Travis Riddle
Benjamin Rojas
Joe Trevizo
Christian Villela
Stephen Williams