Angelina College Honors Latest Law Enforcement Academy Class

On Monday, the Angelina College Law Enforcement Academy held a ceremony honoring its Class 118 graduates as they headed into their respective law enforcement careers.

Friends, family, and fellow law enforcement officers showed up to pay their respects to these 12 graduates inside AC’s Hudgins Hall.

These Cadets Earned Top Honors

• Amber Lee - Top Gun, Valedictorian

• Grant Wilson - Top Driver
• Jonas Guy - Physical Fitness Award

Interim Police Chief and Academy TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement_ instructor Ashley Jowell lauded the graduating cadets for their perseverance throughout the grueling training.

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Keynote speaker Judge Jefferson Davis, 145th District Court Judge, Nacogdoches County, offered remarks ranging from movie quotes to his personal observations of law enforcement officers.

“Law enforcement officers have shaped me,” Davis said. “I feel I’ve had a front-row seat all my days to watch the good works involved with law enforcement.”

Davis shared some of his witnessed experiences, including the humorous and tragic, as a warning of sorts to the cadets about facing the unexpected. Each of his stories related how, despite all the training involved, there are situations not covered in any curriculum—stories that included an au naturel intoxicated driver and “guard donkeys” at a wrecking yard.

“Remember that when you leave the academy, the badge you’re wearing isn’t just made of metal. It’s made of trust: Trust from the community you’re going to protect, trust from your colleagues with whom you’ll work and trust from the loved ones who believe in your character.”

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Graduating Class 118

• James C. Collins - Nacogdoches
• Christopher A Cox - Onalaska
• Darrell D. Derbin - Nacogdoches
• Derek G. Foster - New Caney
• Jonas P. Guy - Lufkin
• Luke J. Jones - Groveton
• Amber M. Lee - Nacogdoches
• Samantha I. Love - Livingston
• Yarely Ortiz - Nacogdoches
• Odalia I. Panado - Cleveland
• Jared C. Seagroves - Nacogdoches
• Grant K. Wilson - Lufkin

The academy staff includes Ashley Jowell, Chief of Police; Lt. Logan Finch, Training Manager; and Kim Capps, Administrative Assistant.

Class 118 instructors included Lt. Logan Finch (Angelina College Police Department), Chief Ashley Jowell (ACPD), Doug Conn (Jasper County Sheriff’s Office); Daniel Boots (ACPD); Randy Holland (ACPD); Bill Gates (Angelina College Fire Academy); Trent Lozano (Texas Municipal Police Association); Cpl. Brad Davis (Lufkin PD); Adam Coats (Central ISD PD); Sgt. Nathan Jessup (Nacogdoches PD); Sgt. Corey Bean (Texas Department of Public Safety); Amy Wren (Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s Office); Danielle Lewis (Burke Center); Capt. Alton Lenderman (Angelina County Sheriff’s Office); Pam Hollis (CPR Instructor, Angelina College); Kim Riddle (Harold’s House); Josh Hadnot (Jasper ISD PD); and Danny Weise (Physical Training Instructor).