Meeting & Agendas

Meeting called to Order by Chair Tiffany Curnutt at 1:00AM.

Discussion: All who come to Austin Community College campuses and centers are currently required to wear face masks. Social distancing is strongly encouraged to help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Classes were reduced to allow social distancing. ACC will continue to monitor and respond to COVID-19 as Spring 2022 semester is expected to go back to pre-pandemic schedules. Action: No action required.

Discussion: Committee members expressed appreciation to G.W. Hildebrand for his contributions to the program and the Advisory Committee and his decision to continue stay in the classroom as a full-time instructor. Action: No action required.

Discussion: Chair, Tiffany Curnutt moved that the meeting be adjourned, and this was agreed upon at 1:55PM. Action: Motion to adjourn by Sheriff Gary Cutler and 2nd by Judge Beth Smith. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion/Action: Motion to approve minutes of the previous November 17, 2020 Advisory Committee Meeting. Action: Motion to approve by Michael Hilliard and 2nd by Sheriff Gary Cutler. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion/Action: R. Kent Morrison 4-year term to end 12/2021. R. Kent Morrison expressed interest to continue as member on the Advisory Committee. Action: Motion to approve by Sheriff Gary Cutler and 2nd by Wayne Clendennen. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion: 1. Discussed hiring PSTC Director to be in place by January of 2022. Current PSTC Interim Director, Dale Toler, will step-in as the Criminal Justice Department Chair. G.W. Hildebrand will step aside as the Criminal Justice Department Chair. 2. CJ Department Chair to relinquish the Training Coordinator to the incoming Director of PSTC. Criminal Justice Department will maintain separation between the Academic Alternative and the regular TCOLE PPOC. Training records to be under the PSTC Director at the ACC PSTC. Action 1: Separation of Academic Alternative and the regular TCOLE BPOC, moving records from ACC Cypress Creek Campus to the ACC PSTC, under the new PSTC Director when hired and notify TCOLE of address change. Motion to approve by Chair Tiffany Curnutt and 2nd by Kent Morrison. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried. Action 2: Hiring of PSTC Director, Dale Toler as the Criminal Justice Department Chair, G.W. Hildebrand stepping aside at the Criminal Justice Department Chair. Motion to have Criminal Justice Department Chair G.W. Hildebrand relinquish his title of Training Coordinator and turn over to new Director of PSTC. Motion to approve by Sheriff Gary Cutler and 2nd by Judge Beth Smith. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion: 1. The Basic Peace Officer Course Curriculum has been extended for 24 hours. This takes the total hours from 696 to 720 hours. The current plan is to add additional hours to existing subjects, not to add new topics. For example, currently Missing and Exploited Children is allotted 4 hours, this will be increased to 8 hours. Other topics to be expanded will be Code of Criminal Procedure, Victims of Crime, Verbal Communication. There may be some additional resource information added to the current curriculum, but again, no new topics. Currently the Academic Alternative Program has a minimum of 720 contact hours, so we already meet the new requirement. Once TCOLE releases the final updates, we can adjust if needed. 2. Currently Peace Officers must complete 40 hours of CE training every 4-year Training Cycle. Once officers reach a minimum of Intermediate Peace Officer Licensing there are no required courses. This will now change with TCOLE mandating at least 16 of the required 40 hours to be specific topics. 3. Retired Peace Officers may now complete an annual firearms qualification under the direction of any NRA or TCOLE certified firearms instructor. The qualification is then submitted to TCOLE; who will issue credentials. This will eliminate the need for retirees to travel to the agency they retired from to annually re-qualify. Action: No action required.

Discussion: Approve future schedules, courses, facilities and processes Action: Motion by Michael Hilliard and 2nd by Wayne Clendennen. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion: 3-year pass rates for students completing the program and 1st attempt of taking the TCOLE state exam are: 97% in 2018; 94% in 2019; 77% in 2020. TCOLE pass rate is 1st attempt with a 90% pass rate for 3-year period. 77% for pass rate in 2020 is contributed to COVID-19, ACC campuses closing, moving to on-line only, and instructor retiring. Jim Molloy reported the pass rate for 2021 was 95.83%. Action: No action required.

Discussion/Action: Discussion of dress code for students taking the four sequence courses. Approval for G.W. Hildebrand and Dale Toler to gather additional information in regard to the uniform style, and dress code requirements to present to the Advisory Committee at a later date. Action: Motion for G.W. Hildebrand and Dale Toler to research how to implement uniform policy by Chair Tiffany Curnutt and 2nd by Sheriff Gary Cutler. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.

Discussion: Discussion to have formalize graduation ceremony at PSTC for students graduating the program and to include their family and guest speakers. Approval for G.W. Hildebrand and Dale Toler to gather additional information and logistics to have formal graduating ceremonies at PSTC for students graduating the program to honor all their hard work. Action: Motion to move to a formal ceremony by Sheriff Gary Cutler and 2nd by Kent Morrison. All members were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried.