Copperas Cove Officer Joseph Calhoun Graduates Police Academy, Earns Academic Honor

Joseph Calhoun crossed two thresholds on the same morning: he graduated from the Central Texas College Police Academy's BPOC Delta Class 2025 and was sworn into service with the Copperas Cove Police Department, capping his training with the academy's highest academic distinction.

Calhoun was named Honor Graduate of the Delta class and received the Elijah Garretson Academic Achievement Award during the March 6 ceremony at the Anderson Campus Center on the CTC campus. The honor, given for earning the highest grade point average in the class, came with an added weight this cycle: Lexi Garretson, widow of the late Copperas Cove Police Officer Elijah Garretson, presented the award at the ceremony.

The award itself had recently been renamed in Garretson's memory. He graduated from the same CTC Police Academy in June 2025 and earned its top academic honor at that time. Less than eight months later, on Jan. 11, 2026, he was killed in the line of duty while working as a Copperas Cove officer. The Delta class became the first to receive the award under his name.

For the first time in the academy's history, two cadets tied for the distinction. Randall Schnell, who served as class president and represents the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, received the award alongside Calhoun. The Copperas Cove Police Department noted the parallel on social media: "For the first time, two cadets tied for the award this year, with Officer Calhoun being one of them. Coincidence? We think not."

Calhoun was among 19 cadets who graduated from the Delta class, with the new officers representing law enforcement agencies from across Central Texas. Stacie Koleski, a new officer with the Kempner Police Department, also graduated at the ceremony and received her certificate from CTC Chancellor Dr. Michele J. Carter.

Guest speaker Samantha Mikeska, a captain with the Bell County Sheriff's Office, encouraged the graduates to lead with integrity and dedication as they enter the profession.

Calhoun credited the cohesion of his class for the experience. "Our class pretty much came together as a team very much from the very beginning," he said in an interview with CTC. "We were always willing to help each other out. If someone was struggling, we were providing extra study material or sitting with them going over questions. Everyone came together as a family unit to work together and ensure that no one was left behind. It was a great experience and if law enforcement is something that you are interested in, CTC is a good avenue to take."

The Copperas Cove Police Department said Calhoun "has a true servant's heart and a genuine passion to serve others, and those are things that cannot be taught."

CTC is currently accepting applications for two upcoming academy sessions: the Bravo class beginning March 30 and the Charlie class beginning June 22.