Bertling takes charge of CAPCOG’s Regional Law Enforcement Academy

David Bertling, CAPCOG’s new Regional Law Enforcement Academy (RLEA) director, seeks to bring more in-service peace officer courses to the region through additional interagency collaboration and long-term scheduling as he also prepares to instruct courses.

“I hope my experience will strengthen RLEA’s role around the region, but the knowledge of others is just as valuable,” said Bertling, a 22-year career master peace officer. Bertling spent a majority of his career working within agencies’ command structures as well as a trainer. “RLEA is about offering what is needed; I want to make sure we are meeting the needs of the region and its officers but most importantly its communities.”

Bertling, who joined CAPCOG in September, is already working with local agencies to offer courses at their facilities for more convenient training times and locations. His goal is to offer a course schedule that spans close to a year, so departments and officers can coordinate appropriately to provide adequate public safety coverage for their communities. He also plans to increase the role of CAPCOG’s Law Enforcement Education Committee (LEEC), which provides direction on CAPCOG’s basic peace officers course (BPOC) curriculum, with the goal of making its members become greater partners in determining the course needs of officers to address crimes, enforcement measures, and specialized techniques on a regional scale.

Bertling is no stranger to the LEEC. He served on it for 9 years during his 17-year tenure with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. His time there included serving as a jailer, training deputy, and a captain. He also worked for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards as a complaint investigator and most recently 3 years as a commander for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. He earned a master’s in criminal justice management and leadership from Sam Houston State University and has taught martial arts for 30 years.

“I enjoy teaching and have taught every age group from children to seniors,” Bertling said. “What is nice about this role is that while I serve as an administrator, I can continue to teach and inspire officers.”