South Texas College’s Department of Public Safety graduated nine staff members during the fall 2021 semester. Among the graduates, five received their bachelor’s degrees, three received their associate’s degrees, and one received a certificate in welding. Courtesy Image
Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – In order to succeed in life, a student must choose a career that they have a passion for, and something that their heart calls out for, according to South Texas College law enforcement officer George Barreiro.
As one of nine staff members with the South Texas College Department of Public Safety to graduate with a degree this semester, Barreiro says he looks forward to continuing his education by pursuing a master’s degree and even a doctorate.
“My goal is to continue with law enforcement and maybe even lead the department someday,” Barreiro said. “I also look forward to perhaps even teaching the younger officers about what we have to offer and what to expect.”
Starting at STC in fall 2018, Barreiro graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement in 2020, and then completed a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership in Dec. 2021.
A full-time law enforcement officer with the STC Department of Public Safety since 2014, Barreiro also worked for Peñitas Police Department as a patrol officer, and later held several positions while working for McAllen ISD Police Department.
He has experience working as a Patrol/Campus Corporal, Investigator, K9 Corporal Supervisor and Trainer, Liaison to HITA, among other roles within the law enforcement profession. He currently has an Advanced Peace Officer License and continues instructing other Law Enforcement Officers in areas such as Basic, K9 Trainer, ASP, Taser and Firearms.
“My degree in Organizational Leadership will help us advance later on within our department, we are the future leaders of the police department here at STC,” Barreiro said. “All of the officers were highly motivated to go through the Competency-Based Education (CBE) courses so they could advance quick.”
Through CBE, students are able to substitute life and work experience in order to fast-track through the academic program.
Graduates included four officers and one police dispatcher who received their bachelor’s degree, two officers and one security officer who received an associate degree, and an additional security officer who received her certificate in welding. They are:
- George Barriero-police officer-bachelors
- Ray N. Gutierrez-police officer-bachelors
- Micheal Medrano-police officer-bachelors
- Guadalupe Gonzalez-police officer-associates
- Julie Cruz-police officer-associates
- Heriberto-security guard-bachelors
- Julian Farias-security guard-associates
- Alyssa Ramirez-security guard-certificate in welding
- Crystal Perez-police dispatcher-bachelors
“We believe that an opportunity like this, for them to be able to get their bachelor’s degree, and improve on how to accomplish their goals, will only help them grow and further help our department,” said STC Police Chief Ruben Suarez. “The college instills this in our department to begin with, to give employees an opportunity to grow. At the end of the day, it benefits the employee through their morale, and they grow within their career. Who knows where it will take them, but the most important thing is that the college has always been supportive and that carries on through the department.”
The Organizational Leadership program at STC is one of a kind as it is the first competency-based bachelor’s degree from a Texas public institution.
“Graduating with their degrees boosts their morale and it also encourages their colleagues to continue their education, as a matter of fact I think they should keep going and finish their master’s degrees,” said Dr. Ali Esmaeili. “They really did a great job and I look forward to even seeing them get their doctorate degrees one day. They can do it. Once they receive their bachelor’s degree from South Texas College they can go all the way to their PhD, no problem.”
STC is the only institution in Texas to offer five bachelor’s degrees. For more information about additional bachelor’s programs at the college please visit https://bachelors.southtexascollege.edu/.
