About the Program

The Brazosport College Law Enforcement Academy is a comprehensive Basic Peace Officer Licensure Certificate Program designed to prepare the student for employment as a police officer in the state of Texas. The information covered will provide foundation knowledge necessary to be a successful peace officer in a citizen-responsive, community-based environment. Successful completion of the certificate will allow the candidate to sit for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Basic Peace Officer licensing exam.

Requirements for program acceptance are:

1. Applyandgain admissionto Brazosport College
2. Must pass program-specific entrance exam
3. Meet all state-mandated requirements under Section 217.1 of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Rules including:
   1. United States citizen
   2. 21 years of age or older
   3. High School Diploma or GED
   4. Must pass criminal background check
      1. No Felony or Class A Misdemeanor convictions
      2. No Class B Misdemeanor convictions within the past 10 years
      3. No Family Violence convictions
      4. NOTE: Probation, Community Supervision, Deferred Adjudication, and Pre-Trial Diversion are all considered convictions for this purpose
   5. Must pass physical exam and drug screen
   6. Must pass psychological assessment
   7. Must possess valid and eligible Texas driver’s license
   8. Not dishonorably discharged from military

The format for the law enforcement academy includes five (5) courses taken in specific sequence resulting in 23 credit hours earned:

• CJLE 1506 – Basic Peace Officer I (5 Credits)
• CJLE 1512 – Basic Peace Officer II (5 Credits)
• CJLE 1518 – Basic Peace Officer III (5 Credits)
• CJLE 1524 – Basic Peace Officer IV (5 Credits)
• CJLE 1329 – Basic Peace Officer V (3 Credits)

Courses may only be taken in this consecutive sequence and during the prescribed scheduling periods.

In total, students receive more than 800 hours of instruction and training in either:

1. A full-time, daytime program that will meet from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday with some full-day Saturdays.

OR

2. A part-time, nighttime program that will meet from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Monday thru Friday with some full-day Saturdays.

The focus of a degree in criminal justice is different from that of the Basic Peace Officer Academy. The Basic Peace Officer Academy is designed for a successful candidate to obtain an occupational license to gain employment as a law enforcement officer in the State of Texas.

The Basic Peace Officer Academy is regulated by statute and by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Additional information may be found atwww.tcole.texas.gov.

For more information, contact the Program Coordinator directly via email atchris.mezzino@www.d-onis.com.