EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 The El Paso Police Department celebrated the graduation of its 139th academy class on Friday at the Starlight Event Center.<\/p>\n
Among the graduates is Joseph Gonzalez, who expressed pride in his accomplishment and gratitude to his family. <\/p>\n
“Today means a lot. I mean, I’m really proud of myself and proud of my family that helped me through this process,” Gonzalez said. <\/p>\n
Reflecting on his journey, Gonzalez shared, “Since I was 18 years old, I was working out of town. I was away from my family. And I just decided that I didn’t want that. I wanted to come back to my hometown, serve my community, and respect others.” <\/p>\n
The eight-month training academy was described by Gonzalez as a challenging but rewarding experience. <\/p>\n
“It’s a long process, honestly, eight months, as you can see. But it’s harsh. But once you learn that and you keep pushing, you’re all right,” he said. <\/p>\n
Gonzalez is set to begin his duties as a peace officer on Sunday, coinciding with Super Bowl Sunday.<\/p>\n
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