Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
As one of South Texas College’s newest police officers, Tomas Jasso is achieving a long-awaited goal: to serve and protect the college that helped shape his future.
With more than a decade in law enforcement, his path has come full circle. Among the first graduates of STC’s Police Academy back in 2013, Jasso now dedicates his career to giving back and supporting the students who walk the same halls he once did.
“I’m so excited to be back at STC, this place has been such a big part of my life,” the 33-year-old said. “Everything we do here is about supporting students. If I’m visible on campus, I want them to know I’m here to help.”
With experience spanning city police departments, school districts and the military, Jasso sees his new role as a chance to keep growing in every aspect of the profession.
“The uniform and the purpose behind it called to me in high school,” Jasso said. “Even though I knew early on that I wanted to be a peace officer, I’ve always wanted to experience and learn everything I could.”
At 16, the McAllen native graduated high school early to enlist in the U.S. Army, spending most of his eight years, part time, with the National Guard in Weslaco.
“I knew my ultimate goal was to attend a police academy, but I also wanted to experience military life and this was the best option to do both. I was fortunate to be close to home,” Jasso said. “I loved it. I probably would have stayed in the service longer, but law enforcement ended up taking over my life.”
While working full time as a security guard, he began taking classes in 2012 to pursue an associate degree, where he was among the first students to learn about STC’s newly established Police Academy. Determined, he switched to midnight security shifts, attended class in the morning and served in the National Guard on weekends.
“I had some experience volunteering with local police departments, so I came in with a little background,” he explained. “But the amount of knowledge and support I received at the academy was immeasurable. It was amazing.”
Upon graduating in 2013, Jasso expanded his skills as a peace officer in various settings, always with the goal of returning to STC. During this time, he also pursued higher education, earning an associate degree in law enforcement in 2020 and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership in 2021, both from STC.
“I applied to work at STC several times, but officers here are expected to have many years of experience. Even now, I’m considered the least experienced with 10 years under my belt,” he shared. “Since starting this summer, I’ve learned something new every single day. My peers are incredibly knowledgeable and being surrounded by that level of experience pushes me to grow. I love that.”
With one long-awaited goal accomplished, Jasso now looks ahead to many more, driven by a passion for growth and learning. He recently became a business owner, launching a customer service technology company and is close to completing his teaching certification with hopes of serving as adjunct faculty one day.
A proud advocate for mental health in law enforcement, he also plans to further his education with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health.
“It all started with a call involving a woman in distress. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t fully prepared to handle situations like that. We’re not mental health professionals, but our job is to help our community,” he said. “That experience led me to take courses and eventually set the goal of pursuing a degree in the field.”
For Jasso, his role at STC represents both an accomplishment and a continuation. From student to officer, the college has remained a constant in his life, shaping his path and now giving him the chance to serve the community that once supported him.
“From my certification, my degrees and now my job, I’m a Jaguar through and through,” he said. “I’m really grateful for everything the college has done for me, and I’m proud to give back to the place that helped shape who I am today.”
For more information on STC’s Law Enforcement opportunities, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/law-enforcement/ or call 956-872-6259.
