Ribbon ceremony celebrates renovated CTC building

A renovated Protective Services/Criminal Justice building was unveiled Thursday at Central Texas College.

“It is crucial that we provide those aspiring, those who want to be in such a noble profession with the resources they need to do their jobs to the best of their abilities,” said U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, about police service.

The location works well because the gym is near the main building, and will be used for physical training, CTC Police Academy Director Patrick Boone said.

More students wanted

Increasing enrollment is a priority. “We rebuilt the program in 2013, so we are rebuilding relationships with local agencies that are sending back their officers to us to train them,” Boone said.

Seven students are enrolled during the day program and 16 at night. The next police academy starts Sept. 12, and 15 people are enrolled.

The building itself, previously known as “Building 122” originally was built in 1974. A fire destroyed much of the structure in 1986, and it was rebuilt the next year.

Building 122 is now called the Protective Services building, and underwent a $615,000 renovation to convert office space to classrooms. The facade was remodeled. Upgrades to electrical, plumbing and mechanical elements were also done.

CTC Chancellor Jim Yeonopolus said students majoring in criminal justice or protective services, as well as police academy cadets, now will have a facility dedicated solely to their needs.

“The expanded classroom facilities now provide students updated classroom space, and an overall more comfortable area more conducive to learning,” Yeonopolus said.

The program was moved to this building because its former building, Building 113, was shared with other departments and is now being renovated to receive Early College students during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Copperas Cove Mayor Frank Seffrood and Harker Heights Mayor Rob Robinson also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.