Texas Border Business
MCALLEN, Texas – Four-year South Texas College police officer Teresa Jasso said she is eager to inspire young female students the way she was inspired as a high school student.
Jasso graduated from STC’s police academy in 2009 and served eight years with the city of Mercedes before working with McAllen ISD. Now more than 10 years later, Jasso said she is excited to serve as a role model for the next generation of public safety officers helping to protect and serve.
“I did the same thing as what these students are doing here and I spoke with a female officer who is still serving to this day. I knew right then and there that is what I wanted to be,” Jasso said. Pursue your education first and do the best that you can to make a good career for yourself.”
STC held its 9th Annual Public Safety Expo at the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence (RCPSE) allowing graduating seniors to speak with local, state and federal law enforcement officials about education requirements, employment opportunities and demonstrations of tactical gear and fire safety.
STC alumnus and arson investigator with Pharr Fire Department, Ruben Vera returned to STC in 2021 for the police academy, providing him with critical skills for the job, he said.
“It was a great experience that taught me a lot about the differences between the fire side and police side,” Vera said. “The police program I attended prepared me for the state exams and what you’re going to see in the field.”
Vera adds that having a police certificate helps him on the job when making an arrest.
“As an arson investigator, it is our job to inspect city buildings or in other cases when there is suspicion of arson in fires, we are the ones who are dispatched and charged with making an arrest,” Vera said.
PSJA North High School senior David Martinez Jr. said he is inspired by family members to pursue a career in public safety.
“There are a lot of great officers here that myself and others can learn from and carry this information into our futures,” said Martinez, who would like to gain employment with Pharr or Alamo’s Police Departments. “I am the oldest of my siblings and I want to help lead others to go to college or enter law enforcement.”
La Feria senior Alyssa Ramirez said she takes inspiration from her father’s drive. She plans to be the first in her family to work in law enforcement and is excited to start the journey.
“My dad is a lineman and works really hard,” Ramirez said. “The drive that he has is what I want to take with me in a career in Border Patrol.”
Ramirez plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
“I want to project others and I think that’s a job worth risking,” Ramirez said.
Over 29 agencies and close to 1,000 students attended this year’s Expo.
For more information about STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence and programs as well as the training it provides to local law enforcement and fire safety agencies visit www.southtexascollege.edu/rcpse.
