Texan Mosaic

Author & photographer:  Fabiola Carrion Anampa, COMM 1318 Photography 1

The South Plains College Police Academy takes the phrase “fighting for your dreams” to a whole new level.   There are 21 police cadets enrolled in the academy, and they recently completed some of their physical training. 

 “They’re doing defensive tactics,” says Kenny Burns, professional services and energy department chair and Law Enforcement Academy coordinator.  “So, they’re learning arrest and control procedures and how to do that on the ground.”

For someone who doesn’t know anything about police procedures this training looks like a big wresting match.  And to some degree, it is.

Instructor Mateo Lopez says this is a 40-hour course, and all week cadets have been learning how to safely “de-escalate” a situation.

“In a volatile situation where they have to go hands on with a noncompliant subject,” Lopez says, “we are teaching them techniques on how to safely subdue someone without injury to themselves or others and administer proper handcuffing procedures.”  

Cadet Makayla Cruz, shared her impressions of how this training has changed her perspective. 

“It’s been an eye-opener,” she says, “on how easy even a small person can take down someone that’s twice as big as them.” 

After today, the cadet training is far from over.  Lopez says the defensive tactics exam is a physical one where student have to show what they learned.  And there is more skills to master.

“They still have to learn how to drive with the police car,” Lopez says, “firearms, and there are other specialized courses that they will receive to prepare them when they go to a police agency.” 

Burns says training for these 21 cadets began Jan. 13 and will finish at the end of May when they take the state test.

“Out of these 21,” Burns says, “we have 14 of them that are already hired on at agencies.”    

Makayla Cruz describes her goals and expectations in this field once she completes the training. 

“I do plan to trying to be a state trooper,” she says, “so after my 2 years I’m going to go to the academy.” 

The police academy program at SPC welcomes anyone who has interest in pursuing a career in the security field.  For more information about the SPC Law Enforcement program, go to the SPC website.