Premont Police Launch Student of the Week Program, Honor Sophomore Lathan Trevino First

The Premont Police Department has a new way of connecting with the community it serves: recognizing students who stand out. The department launched its "Student of the Week" program this week, and sophomore Lathan Trevino became the first student in Premont to receive the honor.

The program represents a deliberate shift toward community engagement for the Premont Police Department, using student recognition as a bridge between law enforcement and the families who live in the small Jim Wells County city. By spotlighting a high schooler first, the department signals that the initiative is rooted in the schools and the next generation of Premont residents.

Trevino, a sophomore, earned the distinction of being the inaugural honoree, a recognition that will likely carry meaning well beyond the week itself. Being the first name attached to a new program ties him permanently to this chapter of Premont's community policing efforts.

Programs like this one have taken root in police departments across South Texas as agencies look for ways to build goodwill and visibility outside of traditional law enforcement interactions. For a department the size of Premont's, a weekly student spotlight offers a low-cost, high-visibility way to stay present in the community in a positive context.

Whether the program expands to include nominees from teachers, parents, or community members remains to be seen, but its launch this week marks a notable first step for the Premont Police Department in formally celebrating the students who call this city home.