Angelina College Police Academy Graduates 19 in Lufkin Ceremony

Congratulations are in order for the latest class of graduates from the Angelina College Regional Law Enforcement Academy. Monday evening, 19 new members of the law enforcement profession were introduced in a graduation ceremony held inside Temple Theater on the AC campus.

Doug Conn, Chief of Police at AC, praised the cadets for persevering despite a delay in training because of COVID-19.

“We started this journey six months ago, and these cadets should have been able to graduate before Christmas,” Conn said. “They’ve endured everything we put them through, and they’ve done an amazing job.”

Keynote speaker James Barge, a long-time veteran of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a member of numerous law-enforcement organizations, reminded the cadets of both their impact and their responsibilities to the communities they’ll serve throughout their careers.

“Some of you will return to the same communities where you grew up,” Barge said. “No matter what situations you encounter, or who you encounter, remember that the right thing is always the right thing to do. Treat everyone exactly the same, and you’ll never have to remember how you may have treated someone else differently.”

A large number of current law enforcement officers in various positions attended the ceremony, and Conn invited them onstage to greet and welcome the new graduates as they crossed the stage.

Joshua Hayden (pictured below) was awarded both Top Gun and Valedictorian honors. Humberto Gonzalez, Jr. received the Top Driver Award.

Academy staff members include Doug Conn, Chief of Police; Lt. Randy Holland, Training Manager; Officer Jack Stephenson, Training Manager; and Kim Capps, Administrative Assistant.

Here is the list of graduates:

• Tanya Acevedo (Lufkin)
• Alan Arreguin (Nacogdoches)
• Caleb Boyer (Brookeland)
• Cody Bradshaw (Buna)
• Cameron Cercone (Lufkin)
• Samantha Crenshaw (Coldspring)
• Reece Durbin (Lufkin)
• Morgen Garcia (Livingston)
• Margaret Gardner (Groveton)
• Humberto Gonzalez, Jr. (Crockett)
• Joshua Hayden (Splendora)
• Christian Ibarra (Lufkin)
• Benjamin Johnson (Diboll)
• John Mack Kimble (Anahuac)
• Colton McCoy (Lufkin)
• Justin Murdock (Livingston)
• Erik Peters (Sugar Land)
• Anna Reyes (Lufkin)
• Rhonda Ruiz (Newton)

For information on the AC Police Academy, email policeacademy@angelina.edu.