News

RCPSE hosts Secret Service training for threat assessment in schools

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 08:49:41 -0500

A recent training on identifying potential threats within schools has proved to be invaluable, especially for law enforcement within local ISDs, according to organizers of a National Threat Assessment Center Presentation Oct. 10.

The South Texas College Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) hosted more than 100 law enforcement officers and representatives from various agencies, cities and ISDs who attended a four-hour course provided by personnel from the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), a component of the U.S. Secret Service.

NTAC specializes in research, training, and consultation on threat assessment and the prevention of targeted violence. It offered an intensive look into mitigating threats for those in attendance.

Secret Service Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio Field Office Paul Duran and Resident Agent in Charge at McAllen’s Secret Service office Brian Gibson helped coordinate the presentation. Pharr mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez gave opening remarks to attendees.

“We want to make sure we have this type of education available to the entire Rio Grande Valley,” said Mayor Hernandez. “We believe strongly in law enforcement, and we believe strongly that at the core of our great democracy is faith. We have faith in our law enforcement training, and we know you put your life at risk every single day.

“We are so grateful for what you do, and the City of Pharr will always be here to help any and all law enforcement as well as this campus,” he said.

NTAC’s presentation at RCPSE addressed topics including identifying possible potential threats, investigating and gathering information, assessing poses of threats or violence, developing risk management strategies and interventions, and interactive case studies.

The training was provided free of charge, and was open to school resource officers, police investigators, school administrators, school counselors, school psychologists or anyone else potentially involved in a risk detection/management position.

“Threat assessment is something that is in the DNA of the Secret Service, it’s something that every agent, office, and analyst does,” said Secret Service Social Science Research Specialist Steven Driscoll. “This program is something we have been doing for decades, instituting best practices at school districts.”

Despite extensive research on the subject, there remains no accurate “profile” of students who engaged in targeted school violence, according to NTAC.

Between 2015 and 2016, there were 827,030 incidents of crime in school ranging from simple assaults to serious violent incidents nationwide, according to NTAC citing figures from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Acting RCPSE campus administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles expressed that the training was invaluable, especially for law enforcement within schools.

“Some of the training dealt with identifying potential threats and students who may be exhibiting concerning behaviors, as well as investigating and gathering information on the background and behaviors of concerning students,” Moroles said. “The course was extremely useful for threat assessment training for school officials.”

STC’s RCPSE provides training for local, county, state and federal professionals in law enforcement, public safety, fire science, and homeland security along the US/Mexico border.

STC is dedicated to providing excellence in educational programs and accessibility to a diverse population. The RCPSE campus specializes in continuous opportunities for professional growth and access to training. The center also serves to strengthen public safety, and benefit those who make public service a career.

For more information about RCPSE and upcoming trainings, please visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/atc/index.html.

STC RCPSE hosts FBI training for Valley law enforcement supervisors

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 13:26:00 -0500

The FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) held a four and a half day course meant to help prepare the next generation of police leaders for their critical first steps in police leadership.

More than 56 supervisors and managers from law enforcement agencies across Texas attended the training at STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE). Officers came from Laredo, Austin, San Antonio as well as the Rio Grande Valley to participate in the weeklong course.

Officers were trained on concepts of credibility, accountability and motivation, while becoming familiar with aspects of liability and discipline that are vital to leadership at all levels of their respective agencies.

“This is a supervision level class which focuses on interpersonal relations as well as the challenges of being a first line supervisor,” said David Boggs, a retired chief of police from Broken Arrow, Okla. who is now a LEEDA instructor. “The goal of the whole class is to make sure people are successful as supervisors, and that they have all the tools they need to start that supervisory journey. It’s foundational for all supervisors.”

The Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI) is part one of the three-step leadership series that makes up an FBI-LEEDA Trilogy that includes a supervisory leadership institute, command leadership institute, and executive leadership institute, according to event coordinators.

LEEDA teaches over 425 courses a year, and anywhere between 10 to 12 trainings a week running simultaneously, Boggs said.

“Law enforcement has really gone through extensive changes over the years, and we feel that in order to be the best at what we do, we have to incorporate a lot of the practices that businesses are using in order to manage departments, personnel, and budgets,” said Edward Chavez, an assistance chief with the City of Pharr Police Department. “This course allows us to be able to gain this knowledge. It’s one thing to police, but not a lot of academies teach individuals how to manage organizations.”

STC is the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training for local, state and federal professionals in law enforcement, public safety, fire safety, and homeland security along the US/Mexico border.

Current goals of the RCPSE include prioritizing the most sought after instruction required by federal, state, county, municipal, and school district law enforcement, further developing partnerships with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), and assisting agencies in recruiting future law enforcement officers.

STC RCPSE is located on a 64-acre site, in Pharr, Texas with additional acres available for future expansion. The Master Plan includes 534,385 square feet of buildings, target range, emergency vehicles operational course, and fire science structures to be completed in three phases over the next decade.

STC President’s Advisory Council: 902 officers, 463 training hours at RCPSE first half of 2019

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 10:50:37 -0500

More than 900 law enforcement officers have participated in training at South Texas College’s new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) since January 2019, according to RCPSE Chief Administrator Paul Varville who spoke at STC’s President’s Advisory Council Committee June 27.

“What we are working towards is more educational opportunities for law enforcement officers in the Rio Grande Valley, providing them with advanced skills and knowledge of techniques to combat cybercrime and other evolving threats to our community,” Varville said.

The President’s Advisory Council meeting was organized to identify strategies that will be used in the development of the college’s 2020 RCPSE training implementation plan. The Council serves as the principal means to develop advanced training programs at the RCPSE and to ensure that those programs remain current with evolving technology.

Following an electronic survey sent to law enforcement asking for input about the types of training most needed for officers, Varville said the College has embarked on a training program to develop courses most needed by law enforcement.

In 2018, STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed extended an invitation to regional leaders in the law enforcement community to participate on the Advisory Council in order to provide recommendations for professional continuing education and college degree programs.

The $71.28 million long-range master plan is on a 64-acre site, in Pharr, Texas with additional acres available for future expansion. The Master Plan includes 534,385 square feet of buildings, target range, emergency vehicles operational course, and fire science structures to be completed in three phases over the next decade.

“It’s important that we develop partnerships to be able to respond to law enforcement needs,” said Wanda Garza, STC Director of External Affairs. “This is about access to facilities and equipment and asking ‘how can we do this?’ Our discussion with you is how we leverage the training funds to be able to provide this to you within our partnership.”

Upcoming Trainings: STC RCPSE will next hold a free 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training for officers on July 8, and an eight-hour course on cellphone investigative techniques hosted by the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office on July 16.

STC President’s Advisory Council: 260 officers receive training at RCPSE Jan. 2019

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:58:48 -0500

More than 260 officers reported for training at South Texas College’s new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) in January 2019, according to administrators who spoke at STC’s first President’s Advisory Council Committee meeting of the year March 28.

Now in its first full year of operation, the RCPSE welcomed hundreds of officers from outside the state for training including those from Lake Charles, LA., as well as municipalities from Texas including Round Rock, Kingsville, Robstown, Leakey, Texas City, Big Spring, and Mentone.

Trainings for officers included courses in disaster preparedness, courtroom and testimony, and report writing. STC now looks ahead to upcoming leadership courses and subject matter experts in crime scene investigation, cyber security investigation, and digital forensics.

“We are the only organization in the state of Texas providing training for federal, state, county, local, and municipal agencies,” said RCPSE chief administrator Paul Varville, who facilitated the Advisory Council meeting.

Varville reviewed the three goals decided upon by law enforcement at their first official committee meeting in 2018.

Goals include developing and delivering 10 specialized skills courses that meet the unmet needs of state, local and federal law enforcement by Aug. 31, 2019; building a partnership with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and law enforcement agencies by 2020; and having the RCPSE assist agencies in recruiting and developing skilled individuals in the field of public safety.

“Our goal is to provide high-quality training in response to the needs of Rio Grande Valley law enforcement agencies,” Varville said. “We have a global vision for future training that provides state-of-the-art equipment along with emerging investigative techniques for all law enforcement.”

The $71.28 million long-range master plan is on a 64-acre site, in Pharr, Texas with additional acres available for future expansion. The Master Plan includes 534,385 square feet of buildings, structures and driving track to be completed in three phases over the next decade.

Dr. Reed said STC has made incredible progress with the RCPSE even though it has taken more than a decade to establish.

“State, local, and federal officers receive quality law enforcement training; however it is without college credit. STC will now provide an opportunity for officers at the state, local, and federal level to obtain college credit for training they have previously received by federal or local peace officer training facilities,” Dr. Reed told advisory committee members at the meeting.

Public invited to explore career opportunities at STC’s RCPSE open house tours

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:22:21 -0600

South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) will be hosting its first open house March 5.

The open house is an opportunity for the public to tour the facilities, watch demonstrations of driving and firearm simulators, and get a first-hand look at the campuses state-of-the-art equipment.

The STC Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence is the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training for local, state and federal professionals in law enforcement, public safety, fire safety, and homeland security along with the US/Mexico border.

Megan Gower, Secretary for the Police and Fire Academy at STC, explains that coming to the open house will benefit students and the community.

“This is important because it will show students and potential students what they will gain from coming to our police and fire academy,” Gower expressed.

The open house is a part of Innovative Tech Week at STC.

Innovative Tech Week is a week designated to the tech fields and gives students the opportunity to discover the new possibilities of careers in technology.

The open house will take place Tuesday, March 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the STC RCPSE located at 3901 S. Cage Blvd. Pharr, TX.

For more information regarding the open house, please contact Megan Gower at 956-872-4200.

STC President’s Advisory Committee selects RCPSE goals for 2019

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 11:05:02 -0600

A working partnership to develop South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety (RCPSE) is a first in Texas, and will serve as a model for future law enforcement to follow, according to Kim Vickers, Executive Director for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Vickers facilitated STC’s third President’s Advisory Council State Local Law Enforcement Committee meeting for the first time on Dec. 13. The committee meeting was organized to identify strategies that will be used in the development of the college’s 2020 RCPSE implementation plan.

TCOLE, which serves as the regulatory agency for peace officers in Texas facilitated the retreat and reviewed the three goals decided upon by law enforcement at the committee meeting.

“You have an opportunity here because of the number of federal officers, which makes it available, but I have not seen this anywhere else, maybe in other parts of the country there may be, but I know there is nothing like this in the state,” Vickers told committee members. “The partnership between the locals which also includes state and federal components is very unique and very positive for the Valley. I think it’s a great idea.”

Vickers was in attendance along with representatives from federal agencies including Laredo Field Operations Director of Southern Operations Carlos Rodriguez; Chief Superior for Hidalgo, Pharr and Anzalduas Efrain De Los Santos; Acting Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz; and Acting Deputy Chief Lloyd M. Easterling.

Representing local police departments on the Council was McAllen Chief Victor Rodriguez; Mercedes Chief Olga Maldonado; Mission Chief Robert Dominguez; Pharr Training Coordinator Sgt. Miguel Reyes; and Assistant Weslaco Chief Raul Lopez.

Law enforcement professionals are coordinating with STC to develop a functioning action plan as the STC RCPSE gets underway. The college held an official ribbon cutting announcing the opening of the facility in September 2018.

The Council now serves as the principal means to develop advanced training programs at the RCPSE, and to ensure that those programs remain current despite changing conditions.

“This particular meeting was a committee meeting, which was then broken up among federal, state, county and local law enforcement,” said STC RCPSE chief administrator Paul Varville. “We discussed moving forward. We have a lot of ideas and conducted a survey where we asked both federal and state entities what kind of training they wanted. They ended up submitting 6,732 requests for training slots just among the members of our advisory board.

“During the committee meeting today, we were able to identify the specific types of training including mandatory training required by the state,” Varville said. “We need to help all of the officers in the Valley to be trained, and address the more advanced courses including cyber technology."

Earlier this year, STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed extended an invitation to leaders of the law enforcement community for inclusion on the Advisory Council. The Council was created to provide regular input and recommendations for professional continuing education and degree programs.

The $71.28 million dollar long-range master plan—that will transform the regional center to a Public Safety, Law Enforcement, Fire Science, and Homeland Security Campus by 2030—is on a 64-acre site, in Pharr, Texas with 180 additional acres available for future expansion. The Master Plan will include 534,385 square feet of buildings, structures and driving track, and will be completed in three phases over the next decade.

Dr. Reed said STC has made incredible progress with the RCPSE even though it has taken more than a decade to establish.

“We have an agreement on an MOU with FLETC in that their basic training can be articulated into continuing education credits,” Dr. Reed told committee members at the meeting. “This is a way for anyone who has been through the FLETC training to go through the process of evaluating some of the training they have experienced and actually earn college credit for it.

“They were very excited about this opportunity, and it’s a great way for officers to be on the path for additional college credit,” Dr. Reed said. “We were surprised how excited and eager they were to move in this direction.”

STC officially opens new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:42:00 -0500

As a new cadet at South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence Daniel Longoria says he looks forward to one day serving the community and protecting the public.

Entering the police academy fulfills a lifelong dream of a career in law enforcement, according to Longoria, who is part of the first group of 24 cadets to utilize the new Regional Center, a master plan that consists of 534,385 square feet of buildings, structures, and driving track to be completed in three phases over the next decade.

Longoria began his law enforcement training at the center in July, and after graduating in December plans to apply with the Hidalgo Sheriff’s Department as a deputy.

“I feel honored that we get to represent South Texas College, and I know all of the cadets are really proud of that,” Longoria said. “I think the program that STC offers is good for people who are looking to start their career in law enforcement. Once you get here, you start at 100 miles an hour, and it is wonderful to be a part of it.”

South Texas College held a grand opening and building dedication ceremony for its highly anticipated Regional Center for Public Excellence Sept. 18.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered the keynote address to a large gathering that consisted of local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals.

Special guests at the event included Sens. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen and Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville; state Reps. Bobby Guerra, D-McAllen, Terry Canales, D-Edinburg and Sergio Munoz Jr. , D-Palmview; Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez; PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel King; and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Vice Chair Dr. Fred Farias.

“Going back to Dr. Reed and South Texas College, I want to thank you for your genuine commitment to both higher education as well as to public safety (and) the reality is both are essential for our future,” Gov. Abbott told attendees. “Keeping communities safe must be our top priority if we are going to have the safety and security to be able to educate our kids, or safety and security to have the vibrant economy that we have.

“Combatting dangerous threats like those you have to deal with requires superior training for law enforcement professionals, and it’s now more important than it has ever been,” Abbott said. “You have to deal with issues like human trafficking, gangs and drug smuggling and to do that, it requires collaboration at all levels of law enforcement as well as first responders. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, public safety professionals are essential to that top priority of ensuring security in our state.”

The new Regional Center intends to make STC the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training along the US/Mexico border while meeting the demand for professionals seeking careers in public safety, law enforcement, fire science, and Homeland Security.

At the event, STC officially launched Phase 1 of its $71 million master plan that will transform the center by 2030. Phase 1 is a 19,500 square-foot investment that consists of a training center, driving skills/skid pad, and shooting and driving simulation labs.

“For all of us living in the Valley, this will be transformative for our region,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “We dedicate this center to our public law enforcement professionals, and we want to say thank you for the work they do. They selflessly give of themselves every day to provide for our security and our safety, and we want to express our appreciation for their service to all of us.”

Phase Two includes a $10.6 million investment for fire science and Homeland Security. It includes a multi-story fire training structure, two story residential training structure and confined space/search and rescue training area. Phase 2 also includes the EVOC, a cityscape with non-lethal training capacity, and a covered shooting range with firearm training classroom.

Phase Three is a $50.6 million investment in Integrative Homeland Security, which will add a physical plant and expansive growth with new education and student services buildings.

“This center is really the culmination of our $159 million bond issue, which was originally approved in Oct. 2013. This is the last of those projects, and represents the only new campus in the entire program,” said STC Board of Trustees chairman Paul Rodriguez. “This is truly a special project, and through the tremendous involvement, leadership and vision of Dr. Reed, Mayor Hernandez and Dr. King, we have a whole different project in our hands, and it’s one to be excited about.”

A true collaboration, the Regional Center would not be possible without significant contributions from the city, school district and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Pharr contributed 59 acres of land worth $2.5 million, and the Basic Peace Office Certification Program is operated in part with the Pharr Police Academy.

PSJA ISD contributed 10 acres of land and an additional $1 million for the construction of four classrooms to serve dual enrollment students in criminal justice and other public safety programs.

“This is about public safety,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel King. “The quality and caliber of public safety will increase tremendously along the border. It is about education. This represents the first public higher education institute with a permanent presence in the tri-city community. Finally, it is about workforce development and one of the most popular careers for young people to consider along with other law related fields.”

South Texas College officially opens new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:56:00 -0500

As a new cadet at South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence Daniel Longoria says he looks forward to one day serving the community and protecting the public.

Longoria began his law enforcement training at the center in July, and after graduating in December plans to apply with the Hidalgo Sheriff’s Department as a deputy.

South Texas College held a grand opening and building dedication ceremony for its highly anticipated Regional Center for Public Excellence Sept. 18.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered the keynote address to a large gathering that consisted of local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals.

Special guests at the event included Sens. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen and Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville; state Reps. Bobby Guerra, D-McAllen, Terry Canales, D-Edinburg and Sergio Munoz, D-Palmview; Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez; PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel King; and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Vice Chair Dr. Fred Farias.

Phase Three is a $50.6 million investment in Integrative Homeland Security, which will add a physical plant and expansive growth with new education and student services buildings.

A true collaboration, the Regional Center would not be possible without significant contributions from the city, school district and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Pharr contributed 59 acres of land worth $2.5 million, and the Basic Peace Office Certification Program is operated in part with the Pharr Police Academy.

PSJA ISD contributed 10 acres of land and an additional $1 million for the construction of four classrooms to serve dual enrollment students in criminal justice and other public safety programs.

South Texas College & Texas Governor Abbott to host dedication ceremony of new Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:23:01 -0500

South Texas College’s highly anticipated Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) will celebrate its grand opening with a building dedication ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

The center is dedicated to all the local, state, and federal law enforcement, public safety, and fire science professionals.

The ceremony will focus on the 19,500 square-foot Phase 1 investment that includes a spacious training center for students, a driving skills/skid pad, and shooting and driving simulation labs.

The center is intended to meet the demand for highly skilled professionals in public safety, law enforcement, fire science, and homeland security careers. The center will make South Texas College the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training along the US/Mexico border.

Phase 1 is part of a $71 million long-range master plan that will transform the regional center into a public safety, law enforcement, fire science, and homeland security campus by 2030. It will also include 180 additional acres available for future expansion.

Paul R. Rodriguez, Chairman of the South Texas College Board of Trustees, reinforced the regional need and support for this project, and stated, “The RCPSE is part of the $159 million bond project passed by voters in Nov. 2013. Contributions and partnerships by the City of Pharr, PSJA ISD, and the Texas Department of Public Safety also made the construction of this center possible.”

South Texas College President, Dr. Shirley A. Reed agrees the new center will have a major impact on the area.

“South Texas has a growing demand for highly skilled law enforcement professionals to ensure public safety in the region, the state of Texas, and the nation,” said Dr. Reed. “The contributions from our law enforcement community will have a major impact on the successful implementation of the first community college Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) along the southern border.”

“We are excited to welcome STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence and its cutting-edge technology, education, instructors, and resources that will train the next generation of public safety and law enforcement officers,” said Pharr Mayor, Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez.

"This project is a great example of what a community can accomplish by working together for the same cause," said PSJA ISD Superintendent, Dr. Daniel King. "Our goal was to expand the higher education opportunities in our tri-city area and we are proud to support STC, in partnership with the City of Pharr, to provide our residents with easier access to higher education, which means better career opportunities and quality of life for our families."

Paul Varville, STC Chief Administrator for the Department of Public Safety will oversee the new STC RCPSE.

“I will be assisting in the development of continuing education and professional development training for federal, state, county, and local law enforcement personnel,” said Varville. “We are very excited for the official opening of this center.”

The building dedication ceremony will take place at the STC Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence located at 3901 S. Cage Blvd. Pharr, TX, Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. Photos and b-roll will be available for media who are unable to attend the event. For b-roll and photos please log onto https://news.southtexascollege.edu/media-library/

In attendance will be local, federal, and state officials, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

STC Executive Officer of External Affairs, Wanda Garza says the RCPSE is all about collaboration.

“We are really transcending a partnership model, it’s very unique in the nation,” said Garza. “We are setting the new blue print of a very integrated federal, state, and local partnership, it’s transformative.”

“STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence benefits our entire region by launching innovative programs in public safety, law enforcement, border security, and fire science,” said Texas State Senator, Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. “This much-needed facility will improve law enforcement training and public safety for our families in the Rio Grande Valley. Its success depends on our continued support.”

Dean of Business, Public Safety, and Technology Mario Reyna expects the center to be a world-class learning environment.

“Future cadets for fire and police will have access to a multi-million dollar complex with the latest equipment that uses virtual reality scenarios to prepare them for their new professions,” said Reyna. “In addition, continuing and professional education will be offered to all first responders and homeland security professionals to satisfy the needs of their profession.”

To learn more about the STC Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/.

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STC, City of Pharr and PSJA ISD break ground on highly anticipated South Texas College Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:55:55 -0600

Master plan includes future buildings, driving track, fire training facilities and shooting range

MCALLEN, TX (March 3, 2017) – South Texas College, the City of Pharr and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo School District (PSJA ISD) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the highly anticipated Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) on Friday, March 3 at 4300 S. Cage Blvd in Pharr.

The new RCPSE will be the conduit by which prospective and current law enforcement professionals will further their education.

South Texas College remains the only location where police cadets can receive college credit during their training, and the new facilities will allow for increased opportunities for Continuing Education credit for current police officers in agencies across the Valley.

“A number of students have expressed their desire to come to the South Texas College police academy from other areas because other facilities don’t offer credits for college,” said STC Chief of Police and Director of Safety and Security, Paul Varville. “We are going to be conducting Continuing Education Courses for police officers employed in police departments throughout the Valley. By offering those education courses, not only will police officers receive TCOLE credit, which they need to get 40 hours every two years, they will also receive college credits.

“Once construction is completed, there will be adequate classrooms available and the facilities to provide firearms instruction and qualification, along with a vehicle driving range for training,” Chief Varville said. “There is no vehicle driving range in the Valley right now. Many of the law enforcement agencies in the Valley are looking forward to the availability of these new facilities.”

In attendance at the event were state Sens. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Eddie Lucio Jr, D-Brownsville; Texas Workforce Commissioner representing labor Julian Alvarez, Texas Public Safety Commissioner Cindy Leon, STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed, PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Daniel King, and Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, MD.

The $10 million facility has been designed by PBK Architects and Dannenbaum Engineering Company-McAllen, LLC and constructed by Noble Texas Builders. Phase One will include a new 19,375 square foot building and the only vehicle driving track south of San Antonio. The facility will also include the only simulators for driving and firearms in the region.

The new building will house classrooms, administration spaces and offices, computer lab, shower/locker rooms, support spaces, a workout room & simulation room. Three classrooms will be able to convert to a larger lecture hall by the use of folding partition walls. The interior of the facility will have plenty of natural lighting with the design of clerestory windows above and will be using a chilled water system to cool the facility.

“This education center will benefit the region by adding additional programs in public safety, law enforcement, border security, and fire science. These programs provide college level certificates and degrees for public safety and law enforcement professionals in the Rio Grande Valley. Furthermore, this center will be able to accommodate the professional continuing education courses required by all law enforcement officers. The spectrum of courses offered will cover all the needs of our region,” said Mario Reyna, Dean for Business and Technology at STC. “Traveling to College Station or San Antonio for specialized training will be a thing of the past.”

Apart from the building, a total of 138 parking spaces will be included along with a skills pad to be used for vehicular training by law enforcement & fire emergency students. The site has been master planned for future buildings, driving track, fire training facilities, and shooting range.

More than $4 million of funding for the facility stems from the $159 million bond passed by voters in Nov. 2013 as well as donations by the City of Pharr, Pharr-San Jan-Alamo Independent School District and the Texas Department of Public Safety, which contributed $1.6 million towards the building’s construction.

Pharr has contributed 59 acres of land worth $2.5 million, and the Basic Peace Office Certification Program will initially be operated in part with the Pharr Police Academy.

“Pharr’s commitment to this campus and training facility was an investment not only in our community, but for the benefit of the entire region. With our great partnerships and more than 200 acres of land availability nearby, this Public Safety Campus lays the groundwork to eventually serve as a unique national model for homeland security that will accommodate the security, law enforcement and public safety training needs on a local, regional, state-wide, and national level,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “We applaud the strong collaboration and combined efforts between the City of Pharr, South Texas College, and PSJA ISD to make this project a success and contribute to the safety, security, and education of our citizens.” .

PSJA ISD contributed 10 acres of land and an additional $1 million for the construction of four classrooms to serve dual enrollment students in criminal justice and other public safety programs.

“This state-of-the-art facility will be the first college campus in the tri-city community, made possible by the great partnership that exists between South Texas College, the City of Pharr and PSJA ISD,” Dr. Daniel King, PSJA ISD Superintendent said. “It will be used by law enforcement agencies for training, certification and practice, and will increase access to higher education to our students and all our citizens.

“Through PSJA’s Early College partnership with STC, many more of our students will be able to earn degrees and become certified in numerous areas that will advance their education and preparation for the careers of their choice,” Dr. King said.

To learn more about this project and to download photos and videos go to https://www.southtexascollege.edu/bondconstruction/rcpse/