Introduction

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WCJC has been certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) as a licensed Texas Peace Officer training academy. Our graduates receive 20 college credits.

Classes are offered at the Wharton and Richmond campuses. Day and night classes are available and are limited to 30 students per class.

http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/

Police Academy:

(Basic Peace Officers Training Certificate)

(20 semester credit hours)

 A certificate program offered by the WCJC Police Academy in the Division of Vocational Science, Continuing Education, and Distance Learning through Public Safety Training.

WCJC operates a licensed police academy certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.  Participants must apply and be accept­ed.  Students who successfully complete this training are eligible to take the state licensing examination to become a licensed peace officer in the State of Texas.

The Police Academy offers both day and evening classes in the Basic Peace Officers Course.  The Police Academy also offers in-service training for area law-enforcement agencies and officers.  Students must take certificate courses as a block.  A class average of 80% and a grade of 80 on the final exam are required to successfully complete the Basic Peace Officers Certificate Course.

The following qualifications must be met before enrolling in the WCJC Police Academy (Basic Peace Officers Certificate Course):

     1.     Be at least 21 years of age within 60 days after graduation from the police academy; or

a.     have received credit for at least 60 semester hours of study from an accredited college or university; or

b.    have received an associate degree from an accredited college; or

c.     have received an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States after at least two years of active service; and  

2.     Have not been convicted at any time of a felony offense.  

3.     Have never been nor currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B Misdemeanor within the last ten years. 

4.     Have never been convicted for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B Misdemeanor or a Class B Misdemeanor within the last 10 years.  

5.     Have never been convicted at any time of a Family Violence offense.

6.     Are not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. 

7.     Be a high-school graduate or high school equivalency certificate (GED) or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service.. 

8.     Be examined by a licensed physician and be declared, in writing, within the past 90 days, both:

     a.    to be physically sound and free from any defects which may adversely affect the performance of duty  as a peace officer, reserve peace officer, or jailer; and

     b.    to show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use after a physical examination, blood test, or other medical test.

9.     Be examined by the WCJC Police Academy's licensed psychologist or psychiatrist at the prescribed time and declared in writing to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health.

10.   Be of good moral character.

11.   Successfully complete all entry tests and forms as required by the WCJC Police Academy.

Applicants who are currently employed by a law-enforcement agency and have completed these requirements as a part of their employment need not be re‑examined, but must submit documentation for verification.  TCLEOSE Forms L-2 and L-3s must indicate designation as a Peace Officer.  Any other designation will require re-examination.  This does not include the academy's entry examinations.

Night-time Police Academy Courses are held on the Fort Bend Technical College and Wharton Main Campuses

Daytime Police Academy Courses are held on the Wharton Main Campus only.

Persons who wish to enroll in Police Training should write to the Wharton County Junior College Public Safety Training, 911 E. Boling Hwy, Wharton, Texas 77488.