Edinburg Police Launches TCOLE-Accredited Training Academy

Staff Report

EDINBURG TX — The Edinburg Police Department has received full accreditation to operate its own police academy, a major milestone that will allow the department to train its own recruits and enhance law enforcement education across the region.

On May 20, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) approved the department’s application, formally establishing the Edinburg Police Academy as a certified training provider. The inaugural class is set to begin in mid-July at the LCPL Derek Hernandez Police Training Facility.

The move follows years of preparation by Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala and his team, who previously partnered with the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) to offer the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) at the same facility. Since 2017, the partnership has produced more than 150 trained officers, including over 90 for the Edinburg department.

“We believed it was time for Edinburg to take ownership of its future in law enforcement training,” Ayala said. “This milestone means we can invest directly in the next generation of officers, ensuring they are not only prepared for the job—but trained with the values and professionalism that define our department.”

With its own TCOLE-accredited academy, Edinburg Police will no longer need to rely on external agencies for training, giving the department greater oversight of curriculum, standards, and instructor development. Department officials also credit the LRGVDC for helping lay the foundation for the city’s independent training program.

The academy is expected to serve not only Edinburg but potentially other agencies in the Rio Grande Valley, reinforcing regional law enforcement capabilities.

Source — Edinburg Police Department