The Galveston County Sheriff's Office and College of the Mainland plan to launch a peace officer training program in January 2027. Officials announced the partnership Thursday, Sept. 10, at the grand opening of the college's new Public Safety Careers Building in Texas City.

The Sheriff's Office serves all of Galveston County, including League City. The one-semester, 21-credit-hour program would prepare students for entry-level law enforcement jobs in less than six months, according to the Galveston Daily News.

The program still needs approval from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and the Galveston County Commissioners Court, Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said at the ceremony. Enrollment is expected to open this fall, with classes starting around mid-January, according to College President Helen Brewer.

Students would start with a Level 1 certificate and could continue toward an associate or bachelor's degree without losing previously earned credits, Brewer told KGTX 7.

The new 50,000-square-foot building at 7733 Monticello Drive houses a 50-yard indoor shooting range, an outdoor training tower, a forensic lab for criminal justice students and a four-bay ambulance simulation lab for EMS training.

"We're able to train the whole gamut of public safety professionals in this building," Brewer said at the Sept. 10 grand opening.

The building replaces facilities built in the 1970s that Brewer said no longer met the college's needs in space or technology. The Fire Academy's classroom capacity grew from about 20 students to 32. The college already has 32 students in the current academy, with 10 more on a waiting list.

Fire Technology and EMS Director Gary Staudt said the college previously relied on fire departments in League City, Friendswood, Pearland and Texas City for some training. The new building also includes a dedicated decontamination room where firefighters can wash gear after live-fire exercises to reduce exposure to cancer-causing substances, according to Staudt.

The indoor range will double as a regional training resource, open to local law enforcement agencies for certifications and continuing education, according to the college's announcement. The college also plans to offer community courses in firearm safety.

Brewer said the officer shortage across Galveston County is driven in part by retirements and in part by population growth. Some students previously had to travel to Pearland or Houston for adequate training facilities.

The building was funded through a $250 million bond package voters approved in May 2023. The margin: four votes, 2,941 in favor to 2,937 against.

Enrollment details for the peace officer program have not yet been released.