Inaugural class of STC, UNT Dallas Caruth Police Institute completes leadership training

Elma Navarro, a sergeant with the San Juan Police Department, is one of 20 local law enforcements agents who were part of the first graduating class from the South Texas College and University of Texas (UNT) of Dallas Caruth Police Institute.

The recent promotion for Navarro meant a deeper role in leadership and she said the course offered through this partnership is the one she needed to help with her transition.

“In the Valley, we’re very limited in the types of training offered and what we have access to,” she said. “To have been given this opportunity and to know that this could be a norm for us, is something we have to take advantage of. This is going to help me, and my department succeed.”

In a recent inaugural graduation ceremony at STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence, the leadership institute graduates from police departments such as San Juan, San Benito, Pharr, Edinburg and STC, received certificates of completion and words of wisdom from STC Vice President of Information Services, Planning, Performance and Strategic Innovation David Plummer, Ph.D.; UNT of Dallas Caruth Police Institute Executive Director Jeff Spivey; and former city of Pharr Chief of Police and Manager-turned-author Andy Harvey.

“This course is developing the law enforcement leaders of tomorrow - you,” Plummer told the graduates. “Our collaboration with the UNT of Dallas Caruth Police Institute is bringing new opportunities to our area, to remain resilient, steadfast professionals and to bring a new level of professionalism and leadership to your departments. As we build on this partnership, there will only be more opportunities for all of you.”

Spivey said he echoed Plummer’s sentiments, and if at least one student had an eye-opening experience, then this collaboration was a success.

“This is an opportunity to learn, to grow and to challenge oneself and I hope our graduates can look back at this point in their career as a time they not only learned something about policing or leadership, but about themselves,” said Spivey. “And I hope this ignited a fire in them to continue training to be the best they can be. We should never stop learning because our profession never stops evolving.”

Sergeant Eric Treviño from the San Benito Police Department said the two-week course was an eye-opening experience to new processes and methods of leadership. It allowed him to evaluate his role and leadership perspectives.

“I want to set an example as a leader, I want to inspire,” said Treviño. “We want to regain trust out in the community and keep trust within our departments. This course showed us how to do that. How to be an exemplary leader for all; we’re here to help everyone. This is going to help me be a better leader, while creating other leaders.”

The partnership between STC and the UNT of Dallas Caruth Police Institute is the first-of-its-kind in the Rio Grande Valley to offer executive-leadership training in the Rio Grande Valley to all local, regional and federal law enforcement agencies.

Through this partnership, STC will have access to all the Caruth Police Institute Curriculum that also includes a Civilian Supervisor Series, Sergeant-level and Lieutenant-level trainings, among others.

For more information on the STC and UNT of Dallas Caruth Police Institute, call STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence at 956-872-4208 or visit southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/.