I know quite a few Garland citizens that have been through the Garland Citizen Police Academy. I don't know if the attraction is the time on the department's state-of-the-art gun range, driving a police car through an obstacle course with the gas pedal mashed to the floor, or riding late through the night with officers on duty. I do know that the alums tell me how much they enjoyed the experience. Perhaps that is why so many join the Garland Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, which is one busy and successful organization.
 

Members of the Garland Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association captured all of the major awards at the recent state conference of citizen police academies.

 
To illustrate how busy, association president Marilyn Parker recently shared with members the association's mid-August success at the Texas Citizen Police Academy Alumni Convention:

 
I am proud to announce that the GCPAAA is recognized as the 2010 winners of the following awards presented at the Texas Citizen Police Academy Alumni Convention. It is an honor to be recognized statewide by our peers.
 
2010 Alumni Membership of the Year
For the alumni year 2009-2010 we had 214 members in our alumni. What is even greater is that we have 64.48% participation from our membership. This is based on members attending at least 50% of all meetings and events. We are blessed to have so many members who support this alumni and our police department. Thank you!
 
2010 Alumni Association of the Year
What is there to say here... We are simply the best. Read through the attached alumni resume and you’ll see for yourself.
 
2010 Ray Ramon – Peace Officer of the Year – Robo [Officer Mike Roberds]
Robo stepped into our alumni with great energy and enthusiasm to get to know the members of our alumni, provide us with great information and help wherever/whenever he could. If there is anyone we want to have our back, it’s Robo...and he’s there. His passion to be involved and his willingness to dedicate his time selflessly to assist and advise our alumni has provided immeasurable gratitude amongst our group. Robo, we love you.
 
Bill Ennis Award – Alumni Member of the Year – Cheryl Bray
Last, but not least, Cheryl has been in our alumni for 10 years and has held all positions on our board of directors, including President from 2008-2010. Through all these years, Cheryl never slowed down. In addition to her alumni duties, she and her husband Joe, own their own business (big responsibility there). She now has 5 grandchildren (she is truly a “full-time” grandmother) and yet still makes time to take on the many tasks it takes to keep the alumni going with all the programs we are involved with. There is a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to making our alumni successful and Cheryl has been there through it all, many times with her grandchildren in tow. (Can you say “stress”?) Cheryl, your hard work does not go unnoticed and we thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. We love you, too.
 
We are the first Alumni to win all 4 awards at the state convention in one year. That’s an amazing feat! And, Garland was represented by 19 members at the convention this year, including Captain [Patrick] McCully and Robo.
 
For a little added history, the Alumni has won the Association of the Year award two other times ... At the 2003 Fort Worth Convention and the 2005 Waco Convention. We’ve also had two other members receive the Member of the Year ... Dorris Murdock in 2003 (Fort Worth) and Vickie Thompson in 2006 (Austin).
 

 
I want to join Police Chief Mitch Bates in his congratulations to the Alumni Association and echo his sentiments: "We are all very proud of you! We’ve always known you’re the BEST in the STATE COUNTRY!"
 
If you have thought about attending the Citizens Police Academy or would like to learn more, please visit the Citizen Police Academy website.