HARLINGEN — The city and the area’s police academy are teaming up again.
City commissioners have entered into an agreement with the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council’s Regional Police Academy, allowing city police officers to provide training as part of the academy’s program.
The agreement comes seven months after the agency shut down its police academy amid an ongoing state investigation into concerns over reports of harsh treatment of students.
Harlingen Police Chief Jeffry Adickes, who was part of the investigation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, requested commissioners consider reuniting with the academy.
“Over the last several months, the LRGVDC leadership and Executive Director Ron Garza have worked with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to reorganize the basic peace officer academy at Harlingen, which is now in operation,” Adickes told city commissioners in a meeting Wednesday.
In October, the police academy resumed classes.
The state launched its investigation after an Instagram video showed a certified academy instructor violently slapping down several class participants during a defensive tactics course May 17.
Earlier this week, Garza said Texas Commission on Law Enforcement required the academy implement “oversight measures” to resume classes.
Now, the academy is operating with two assistant directors in the place of a director, Garza said.
Garza said one director oversees compliance while the other’s in charge of curriculum.
The academy has entered into similar training agreements with the cities of Hidalgo, Mission and Edinburg, Garza said.
“Harlingen and HPD join the cities of Mission, Hidalgo and Edinburg in partnering with LRGVDC in their efforts to produce professional police officers to serve our diverse communities,” Adickes told commissioners.
