Police training

To Brad Miller, Odessa College's law enforcement director, there's more reward in the blue than in the black gold.

Odessa College is expanding it's law enforcement academy to Pecos because of a need, and one a functional city can't go without - trained officers and prison guards. That's something pressing West Texas communities as police department, sheriff's offices and prisons lose peace officers to the oilfields.

Robert Muñoz, dean of technical and workforce development, also said Odessa College is required by state regulations to have a full-time position for law enforcement throughout the 33,000 square miles the college serves.

Muñoz said the college has the largest service area in the state of Texas.

Odessa College will divvy up $75,000 through a three-year agreement made with Reeves County to take the law enforcement academy and prison guard training to the city of Pecos.

"This fills a real void in our community and the surrounding area,  Sam Contreras, Reeves County Judge, said in news release. "We stand in need of more law enforcement officers."

Reeves County will support $25,000 of the cost to support a new full-time instructor, but Odessa College will have to squeeze the balance out of its budget. 

"We're fortunate to have the community support and the financial support," Muñoz said.

The need goes beyond state regulations.

"There's a need in law enforcement - everyone's really short-handed right now," Miller said. "There's a staffing problem because a lot more people are wanting to work in the oilfield."

Miller said there are several prisons in that area, and they need more trained prison guards, too. There is a county jail, and the Reeves County Detention Center, which is county-owned but holds federal inmates.

"Without a doubt we need more prison guards. We have many, many vacancies," said Martin McDaniel, warden of the Reeves County Detention Center.

He said there's a definite need, but he's handling the employment shortage just like everyone else in Odessa, Midland, Big Spring, Andrews and Monahans - utilizing overtime and recruiting.

He said he hopes the new class will bring more applicants to Reeves detention center.

"There are a lot more rewards in this line of work than from the oilfields," Miller said. "It's about helping people."