The BPOC meets all TCOLE Basic Peace Officer Course requirements and includes instruction and applied training in:

• Texas Penal Code and Traffic Laws
• Arrest procedures and constitutional law
• Patrol tactics and field operations
• Defensive tactics
• Firearms training and qualification
• Emergency vehicle operations
• Crisis response and officer safety
• Physical fitness and conditioning
• Ethics and professional conduct

Training culminates in comprehensive evaluations that prepare cadets for endorsement to take the state licensing exam.

Upon successful completion, graduates are:

• Eligible to sit for the TCOLE Peace Officer Licensing Exam
• Qualified for entry-level peace officer positions in Texas
• Prepared for service with sponsoring agencies and other law enforcement organizations statewide

The BPOC provides the foundational certification required for most peace officer employment in Texas.

Instruction emphasizes both knowledge and application. Cadets participate in:

• Classroom learning
• Scenario-based exercises
• Skills labs
• Firearms and tactical training
• Structured physical training
• Practical assessments

This balanced approach ensures graduates are prepared for the physical, legal, and operational demands of the profession.

Bruce Harlan brings over 40 years of experience in law enforcement and security leadership, with deep expertise in training program management, curriculum design, and instructor development. His career spans regional police academy leadership and international tactical training in post-conflict environments.

Bruce currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Austin Community College, preparing future officers through scenario-based instruction aligned with Texas peace officer licensing standards. He was selected to serve on the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Basic Peace Officer Academy Curriculum Committee, contributing to statewide training standards.

Previously, Bruce served as Deputy Director of Criminal Justice for the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), providing senior leadership for regional law enforcement academy operations and training development. As a Lieutenant and Training Coordinator with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), he managed statewide training programs, enforcement instructors, and performance standards.

His instructional background is grounded in extensive tactical experience, including service as a SWAT Team Leader and Instructor and leadership of the Covert Operations Response Team, where he developed the Tactical Operations and Planning School (TOPS). Internationally, he served as a Commander and tactical trainer for DynCorp International in Kosovo, supporting UN CIVPOL operations. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran.

Bruce holds a Master Peace Officer License and is a TCOLE-certified Advanced Instructor, with specialized certifications in firearms, defensive tactics, baton, Simunition, incident command, and international police instruction. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Texas State University and an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from Austin Community College.

He retired from the Austin Police Department after 25 years of distinguished service, holding a Master Peace Officer certification through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Following retirement, he transitioned to academia, accepting a full-time faculty position with the Criminal Justice Department at Austin Community College, where he continues to educate and mentor future law enforcement professionals.

During his tenure with APD, he served as a TCOLE-certified Firearms Instructor with extensive experience teaching SWAT tactics, pistol, rifle, and automatic weapons. More than half of his law enforcement career was spent in specialized assignments with the SWAT Team and Bomb Squad, providing him with significant operational expertise that directly informs his instructional approach. He also served in a broad range of assignments, including Patrol and Internal Affairs, contributing to a well-rounded professional perspective.

With more than 35 years of law enforcement training and instructional experience, he brings both real-world operational knowledge and academic preparation to the classroom. While serving with the Austin Police Department, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice, reinforcing his commitment to professional development, education, and excellence in training.

Professor Greg Lawson is a retired lieutenant from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) after 32 years of service. He is currently assigned as the ACC TCOLE Basic Peace Officer Course Coordinator.

During his tenure with TCSO, he served as a corrections officer, CORE bootcamp drill instructor, patrol deputy, mental health officer, lake patrol marine safety enforcement officer and supervisor, SWAT officer and medic, academy defensive tactics instructor and range master, Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Team (SURT) scuba diver and supervisor, child abuse and major crimes detective, patrol sergeant and watch commander, and academy lieutenant and director of training. Lt. Lawson received 15 TCSO award decorations, including the Meritorious Service Bar, three Lifesaving Bars, the Commendation Bar, and Officer of the Year.

Before and during his law enforcement career, Greg served 10 years across three branches of the military. First, with the U.S. Army as a paratrooper at Fort Richardson, Alaska; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina; Egypt and the Sinai Desert, North Africa; and Central America. Second, he was a U.S. Navy operations specialist and master-at-arms onboard USS NIMITZ, making two Western Pacific deployments to the Arabian Gulf, Iraq, and Kuwait during Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Operation Southern Watch. Finally, he served as an Air Force Security Forces Combat Arms Range Master (CATM), completing deployments to Bosnia and Korea (yes, you can do that…).

Professor Lawson received his Associate of Arts in English and Criminal Justice from ACC, and his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and Master of Education from Texas State University. Greg has more than 6900 TCOLE training hours and is a Master Peace Officer instructor. Additionally, he is an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy, the first Honorary Marshal of Tombstone, Arizona, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

The first cohort of the Basic Peace Officer Course at Austin Community College is open only to employed, agency-sponsored cadets. Applicants must be sponsored by a law enforcement agency. Independent or self-sponsored students are not being accepted for this cohort.

Agency-sponsored means you are already employed or selected by a law enforcement agency that is supporting your participation in the academy. Your agency coordinates enrollment and sponsorship with the college. If you are not currently affiliated with an agency, you should contact local departments directly to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. 

No. This cohort is limited to agency-sponsored cadets only.

Future cohorts may have different eligibility requirements. Contact the program for updates.

No. The BPOC is a stand-alone training academy and does not require enrollment in an associate degree or other academic program.

The program includes 800+ hours of instruction and practical training over 21 weeks,  meeting all requirements established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Yes. Law enforcement training includes regular physical conditioning, defensive tactics, and scenario-based exercises. Cadets should be prepared for daily physical activity.

After successfully completing all requirements, graduates are eligible to take the TCOLE Peace Officer Licensing Exam. Passing the exam results in state licensure as a peace officer.

Email: [email protected]