Criminal Justice Training Center Cadets Graduated on April 15
From Cadets to Officers
UHD Basic Peace Officer Academy Produces Another Class of Graduates
Courage, strength, dedication, and compassion. Those are the four qualities requested in the Police Officer’s Prayer, and they’re also qualities the cadet graduates from UHD’s Basic Peace Officer Academy (BPOC) possess in spades.
The latest class was honored on April 15 in the Wilhemina Robertson Cullen Auditorium, along with Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) faculty and the cadets’ friends, family, and soon-to-be coworkers employed at law enforcement agencies across Houston.
Guest Instructor and longtime Houston attorney Glenn Gotschall addressed the cadets and their families with a charming mix of levity and gravity, as he urged them to be vigilant about their physical and mental health throughout their careers. He also implored each cadet to take their oath seriously, and to strive for citizen safety and a just application of the state’s laws.
Director Anthony Levey also spoke, adding that, while the graduates should be proud of their efforts, the real work will begin when they start work as law enforcement officers.
See below for a list of graduates and class officers.
Class Officers
- Captain Brittany Barker
- Lieutenant Thomas Crow
- Sergeant Noe Hernandez
- Corporal Natalie Spellman
Members of BPOC Class 444
- Nori Alaniz
- Syed Ali
- Emmanuel Arreola
- Mickey Bonilla
- Anthoni Carbajal
- Michael Castaneda
- Benjamin Champion
- Isaac Cruz
- David Gonzalez
- Kendrick Green
- Eduardo Grimaldo
- Victor Grimaldo
- Michael Grimes
- Alexis Guzman-Negrete
- Alan Harris
- William Ingram
- Emma Kane
- Eva Ledezma
- Theodore Relan
- Manuel Rodriguez
- Jonathan Santana
- Josue Somoza
- Christopher Rojas
- Aimen Tamayo
- Dacota Velez
- Jessalyn Vingco
- Jason Wester
- Jessica White
- Robert Whitley
- Jordan Williams
About the University of Houston-Downtown
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.