The H. Joaquin Jackson Law Enforcement Academy at Sul Ross State University is accepting applicants to the Class of 2024, which starts Jan. 8, 2024.
The academy, housed in the College of Education and Professional Studies, provides two types of training programs. A basic police academy is conducted annually and exceeds the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) 736-hour Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC).
Cadets who successfully complete the basic police academy are eligible to sit for the TCOLE Basic Peace Officer examination. Those who pass this exam with a score of 70 percent or higher are then certified by TCOLE and are eligible for hire by Texas law enforcement agencies.
Secondly, the academy provides continuing education and in-service training for law enforcement and corrections personnel in the Sul Ross State University service area. A variety of courses ranging from four hours to 40 hours in length are offered each semester. These courses are designed to fulfill TCOLE-mandated training requirements and to meet the unique training needs of area agencies.
More than 600 cadets have graduated from the Sul Ross academy since its inception in 1982 with a 100 percent rate of hire, mostly by West Texas law enforcement agencies, for those who pass the TCOLE BPOC.
Current students can be certified as part of their undergraduate degree, including 15 credit hours, for $3,640. For non-Sul Ross State students, the tuition is $4,990 for the semester.
SRSU students who need credit hours to complete a bachelor’s degree in either Criminal Justice or Homeland Security can get up to 15 hours at the academy and receive both their degree and peace officer license. Graduate students can get up to six credit hours for the same two degrees. They can also take advantage of discounted tuition.
To complete the pre-screening application, visit