TAMIU PD Chief Perez Completes LEMIT New Chief Development Program
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Chief of Police Cordelia G. Perez joined 115 new police executives from across the state in the completion of the New Chief Development Program Class No. 70 offered by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville June 26-30.
The New Chief Development Program (NCDP) is devoted to the professional development of first-time chiefs of police. The new chiefs receive professional development tailored for new police executives. The course provides leadership development designed to enable chiefs to avoid pitfalls, perform more effectively, and be better departmental resource managers.
It also provides valuable peer networking to build shared experience foundations. Most importantly, LEMIT is the only training provider and the NCDP the only course to fulfill the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training requirements for Police Chiefs as outlined in The Education Code, Section 96.641.
Among the specialized topic training Chief Perez and NCDP classmates received were: property and evidence room management, developing and managing a budget, and the development of effective policies and procedures.
Chief Perez said the LEMIT NCDP training provided insight and established links with colleagues across the state.
“Despite my 31 years in law enforcement, the higher education space in policing is new to me. I found that the NCDP Course presented helpful insight and, perhaps most importantly, welcomed me to a network of peers that I know I can rely upon to continue that insight if needed,” Chief Perez said.
In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature renamed LEMIT in honor of State Representative Bill Blackwood. Blackwood, a Texas A&M University graduate, served in the Texas Legislature from 1984 - 1993. A staunch supporter of law enforcement, he sponsored legislation providing death benefits for the families of police officers killed in the line of duty and legislation creating LEMIT. Upon his passing in 1993, LEMIT became The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.
For 30 years, the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas has been committed to providing exceptional education, professional development, research, and services to the law enforcement community to inspire excellence in leadership and management for 21st Century law enforcement agencies.
Chief Perez joined TAMIU in September of 2022. Her impressive career includes service to the Laredo Police Department, leadership in community policing, and advocacy for and outreach to victims of crimes. Perez is a proud TAMIU alum (’14). The mother of two sons, she’s the first female Hispanic Chief of Police at TAMIU, and currently the sole female police chief in the 11-campus Texas A&M University System.
Perez leads a full-service, 24/7 Police Department tasked with providing an environment that fosters opportunities for personal responsibility and growth, and an educational and protective backstop for exploration by all TAMIU students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Department enforces University policies as well as local, state and federal laws.
To learn more about the University’s Police Department, visit https://www.tamiu.edu/adminis/police/
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