The University of Texas System Police Academy was created by the unanimous vote of the U.T. System Board of Regents on December 8, 1967 and the first class of officers graduated on January 31, 1968. All individuals employed as police officers by a U. T. System institution police department must complete the Basic Police Officer Training course conducted at the academy prior to assuming their duties as police officers.
Since 1968, 1,713 officers have received their basic police officer training at the academy. In addition to officers employed by U.T. System institutions, officers from other institutions of higher education and law enforcement agencies in the State have attended the academy. Officers from several Universities including St. Edwards, Southern Methodist, Southwest Texas State, Baylor Health Care System, Huston-Tillotson College, Austin Community College, and Texas Tech have utilized the academy. In addition to institutions of higher education, other law enforcement agencies including the City of San Marcos, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Capitol Police, and Texas Department of Treasury have completed their basic police officer training at the academy.
The basic police officer training curriculum meets or exceeds all standards set by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, TCLEOSE. The U.T. Academy curriculum contains 884 hours of instruction while the TCLEOSE mandated curriculum contains 618 hours of instruction.
In addition to the hours allocated to classroom instruction, many hours are provided for hands-on experience. Students are able to apply classroom instruction almost immediately rather than waiting until after graduation and learning on-the-job. Areas where hands-on training are especially valuable include crime scene and accident investigation where time is allowed for the students to dust for fingerprints, measure and diagram scenes, take photographs, collect evidence and write reports. Also, time is provided to allow students to practice self-defense tactics, handcuffing, radio procedures, first aid and CPR, shoot-don’t-shoot scenarios, and bomb searches.
Following successful completion of the academy and achieving a passing score on the State mandated Peace Officer License Examination, officers are commissioned by the U.T. System Board of Regents.
Officers commissioned by the Board of Regents are authorized, by Article 51.203, Texas Education Code, county wide police jurisdiction in all counties where the U.T. System or a U.T. System institution owns, leases, rents or otherwise controls property. Within those counties, officers are vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities of peace officers and may enforce all traffic laws on streets and highways.
Academy Motto:
Mens sa-na in cor-po-re sa-no "a sound mind in a sound body"
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Last revised 09/12/11.
