Sul Ross Law Enforcement Academy graduates largest class

The graduating class of the Law Enforcement Academy at Sul Ross State University stand together for a picture during the final week’s ‘Hell Day.’

ALPINE The Sul Ross State University Law Enforcement Academy has an international flavor in this year’s graduating class, its largest to date.

Twenty-one students, including one from Canada and one from Mexico, graduated Dec. 11.

Kellie Powell, Alpine, director of the Law Enforcement program, has been involved with the program since January of 2005, and says this is the biggest and most diverse class she has had. Students range in age from 20 to 40, with backgrounds that include jailers, oilfield workers, dispatchers, construction, draft work and the military.

Graduates and their hometowns are: Aaron Fierro and Christopher Navarette, Alpine; Timothy Endres and Josh Tulloch, Belton; James Ballard, Mitchell Johnson, Thomas Ronquillo and James Valenzuela, Fort Stockton; Kimber Gibson, Iraan; Felix Salcido, Pecos; Jaime Sanchez, Presidio; Nathan Kuberski, San Angelo; Stanley Maresch, Sonora; Jacob Cabezuela, Lorenzo Ceniceros, Andres Franco, David Haynes and Enrique Medina, Van Horn; Ryan Jack, Florence, Ky.; Joseph Waelbroeck, Millington, Tenn.; and John Clark, Ontario, Canada.

Along with the occupational diversity, the class has an international flavor.

Clark, the oldest student, came from Canada to join the program. While working as a part of the Canadian police, Clark came through Alpine on vacation and decided he wanted to work in the Big Bend Ranch State Park in Presidio.

He contacted Powell and they retrieved his transcripts and all the necessities to get him enrolled in the program.

“He was born in the U.S. and meets all the requirements for our program,” Powell said.

Sanchez, born in Mexico, is a naturalized citizen, and already works at the Big Bend State Park. “After the academy, he will be in law enforcement there,” Powell said.

Gibson is the youngest and only female in the group. She has a background in law enforcement that helps her fit in well with the other students.

“She does a great job. She’s not intimidated by these guys and fits in really well,” Powell said. “She comes from a law enforcement background so this is a second nature to her.”

Students must go through a strict screening process to be selected for academy admission. Each student has to be approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE), the Texas licensing commission for law enforcement officers.

General and criminal background checks are conducted. The student cannot have any arrest higher than a class C misdemeanor or a family violence arrest. The students’ names are submitted to TCLEOSE for approval by the academy, and they wait to receive word if they qualify.

Once approved, the students must complete 800 hours in 18 weeks to graduate from the academy. During those 18 weeks the students study state law, traffic law, report writing and criminal investigation. Powell also schedules the viewing of an autopsy, although it is not required by the state. She feels this is an important aspect of law enforcement.

“I think it’s important that they have an experience with death,” Powell said. “I don’t want their first experience with death to be on the street.”

Powell explains that what they are learning in the academy is helping them gain a better respect for life. “They learn how bullets damage the body, and where to and not to strike during defensive tactics, so the autopsy gives them a better respect for life,” she said.

The students also engage in various hands-on training including firearms, defensive tactics, police driving, field sobriety, pepper spray, and have daily physical training.

Michael Maciaz, Alpine, is the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) and is working on a degree in kinesiology. Maciaz attended the Cooper Institute in Dallas, which is recognized nationwide for its education in law enforcement, fire, and military education. He attended the institute specifically to become a PTI for law enforcement.

As the PTI, Maciaz stresses that togetherness and integrity are both important to be successful in the program.

During the final week of the academy, the students underwent “Hell Day,” eight hours of grueling physical training.

The workout began at 5:30 a.m. at Graves Pierce Recreational Center for exercises including jumping jacks and mountain climber push-ups; then to Jackson Field for a mile run and running up and down the bleachers. After a lunch break the day continued at the sandpit in front of Mountainside Hall for an exercise involving dragging a teammate through the sand. The day ended at the swimming pool with laps and other exercises.

“Hell Day is designed to test their heart,” Powell said. “It’s been a tradition since I’ve been here.”

Powell feels that with the diversity and strong will of the students involved, that the program has done extremely well.