Lone Star College turns students’ lifelong dreams of protecting and serving their communities into a rewarding reality through the LSC Law Enforcement Academy. The LEA Class 2024A (summer cohort) recently graduated 23 cadets, many of whom received early job offers from area police organizations.
“Graduation is the most exciting time of the year for Lone Star College because we get to celebrate our remarkable students, like the Law Enforcement Academy Class 2024A for persevering through rigorous academic coursework and tough physical fitness exercises to achieve their goals,” said Seelpa Keshvala, Ph.D., LSC executive vice chancellor, Academics. “Lone Star College is excited and proud to watch these new police officers make a difference in their communities by changing lives and creating a safer and more just society. We are truly fortunate to have them as our protectors and role models.”
The Law Enforcement Academy, located at LSC-East Aldine Center, trains cadets to maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, state and federal laws for various law enforcement agencies, including educational institutions. New graduate Marissa Parrish said the program has prepared her mentally and physically for real-world situations as a police officer.
“I chose a career in law enforcement because I’ve always had a passion for serving my community and as I got older, I realized it was more than serving my community; it’s about being a voice for the people who have lost theirs,” said Parrish, a new police officer with the Fulshear Police Department. “Lone Star College’s law enforcement program took time and dedication to train us through simulator training exercises where we experienced real calls in real-time and provided us with the proper tools and expert instruction to ensure we are trained and ready to serve as peace officers.”
The LSC Law Enforcement Academy is a six-month program that provides cadets with a solid foundation in criminal justice, criminal investigations and community policing. Those basic knowledge and skillsets (driving, firearms, defensive tactics, etc.) will help recent graduates like Timothy Edwards quickly and successfully enter the workforce.
“As a police officer, I aspire to build strong relationships, be a problem-solver, focus on crime prevention, address the underlying causes of criminal behavior and contribute to a safer and more just society,” said Edwards, a new Harris County Precinct 4 deputy. “The practical hands-on experience I gained through Lone Star College’s academy is invaluable in preparing me for a law enforcement career.”
The Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy started in 2022 and has graduated 91 students, with 95% finding employment as Texas peace officers. The program follows a curriculum mandated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to prepare all police trainees to pass the licensing exam to become a peace officer.
“The Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy assists our students in finding employment by bringing in recruiters from law enforcement partners and agencies in the greater Houston area,” said Glenn Riddle, LSC director, Law Enforcement Academy. “Currently, there are ample job opportunities for peace officers and most of our students have secured employment before graduating.”
Successful program completion requires students to pass the academic, skills training (driving, firearms, defensive tactics) and physical fitness components. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Law-Enforcement-Academy.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.