CAPCOG Regional Law Enforcement Academy (RLEA) graduated 45 peace officer cadets on Friday who are going to work at least 17 different agencies operating in and out of the region. The graduating class, No. 103, set a record for the most cadets to graduate from a CAPCOG basic peace officer course (BPOC) in the last two decades.
“It has been an honor to teach this class who have shown through their course work that they are ready to serve not just as law enforcement officers but as pillars of their communities.” said David Bertling, CAPCOG RLEA director. “This class has gone above and beyond to learn that being a peace officer is just as much about knowing and enforcing the law as it is being a trusted and respectful neighbor.”
The new peace officers received more than 1,000 training hours before testing for their Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Basic Peace Officers License and earning the ability to cross the graduation stage. They graduated with all the required certificates plus OC Spray and baton. Nineteen cadets also earned their patrol riffle certifications, which the cadets or their hiring agency can opt into them acquiring during the course. BPOC No. 103 started July 28, 2025 before finishing March 20, 2026.
Hutto Police Chief, Jeffery Yarbrough, spoke to the cadets and their families at the ceremony giving them words of encouragement and reminding them to be understanding, positive, and influential figures in the community they serve.
“Make sure the reflection they see in you, is the reflection they want to embrace, and that opportunity for you starts today,” Yarbrough said. “Go make it happen out there as peace officers, and make it a better place for all. Class 103… Welcome to the family.”
During their graduation, Bertling; the class president, Tyler LeGarde; and the class valedictorian, Kadi-Rae Carr; also spoke to the cadets about their accomplishments and their road ahead. Austin Community College Police Department’s Honor Guard presented the flags for the ceremony while Sam Marcos Police Department officer and BPOC No. 102 graduate, Adriana Bradley, sang the national anthem. Cadet and now Austin Independent School District (ISD) Police Department Officer, Kevin Hull, led the new officers and their attending families in prayer. Bertling also recognized the Cedar Park Police Department for assisting with the course’s training. Other BPOC No. 103 honors went to salutatorian, Gabriella D’Angelo; top gun, Daniel Mayes; secretary, Christopher Martinez; and the Director Leadership Awardee and Sgt. at Arms, Bryan Martin.
The graduates included:
- Vicente Alonso – Austin Community College Police Department
- David Banitt – Independent
- Robert Bodine Jr. – Independent
- Jose Bolanos – Kyle Police Department
- Daniel Buentello – Austin Community College Police Department
- Cameron Carlone – Bee Cave Police Department
- Kadi-Rae Carr – Lakeway Police Department
- Agustin Cervantes Jr. – Austin Community College Police Department
- Marco Cruz – Austin Community College Police Department
- Gabriella D’Angelo – Austin Community College Police Department
- Ronald Deaver Jr – Austin Community College Police Department
- Denver Donaghe – Independent
- Jonathan Dube – Austin Community College Police Department
- Tyrone Fisher – Travis County Pct 1 Constable
- Joshua Fuller – Independent
- Michael Gallegos – Kyle Police Department
- Christine Gallik – Travis County Parks Police Department
- Brandon Gonzales – Kyle Police Department
- Daniel Gonzales – Luling Police Department
- Kevin Hull – Austin Independent School District Police Department
- Dustin Irle – Gonzales Police Department
- Tyronne Jordan – Kyle Police Department
- Joris Kerckhof – Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office
- Tyler LeGarde – Austin Community College Police Department
- Adam Lucero – Hays County Sheriff’s Office
- Dakota Luttrell – Lakeway Police Department
- Cash Mares – Bastrop Police Department
- Brian Martin – Independent
- Christopher Martinez – Texas State University Police Department
- Daniel Mayes – Hays County Sheriff’s Office
- Maximus Maze – Austin Community College Police Department
- Joshua Mosely – Rollingwood Police Department
- Noe Navarro – Austin Community College Police Department
- Adrian Ortiz – La Grange Police Department
- Whitney Piper – Austin Fire Department
- Samantha Pisa – Elgin Police Department
- Alfonso Rosado II – Austin Community College Police Department
- Caleb Taylor – Bee Cave Police Department
- Elroy Trevino – Lakeway Police Department
- Genesis Wells – Austin Community College Police Department
- Jacob Wenzel – Bastrop Police Department
- Bobby White III – Gonzales Police Department
- Ryan Wightman – Hays County Sheriff’s Office
- Cedric Williams – Bastrop Police Department
- Benjamin Yiapan – Bee Cave Police Department
