photo or infographic by Brian Kennedy

MEMORIAL SALUTE. Saluting in the distance, senior Chase Wiederhold pays his respects at the Texas Peace Officers Annual Memorial.

You see them walking down the hallway decked out in iron-pressed uniforms all in sync. The confidence, the posture, and the leadership skills they show make you wonder what kind of organization or club that is. This group is none other than the future leaders of the criminal justice world, The Willis Law Enforcement Academy.

While the law enforcement academy prepares to help people of the future they first need help from the people. The Willis Law Enforcement Academy is in need of donations for their D.C. trip. Students of this program hope to attend Washington D.C. during National Police Week for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will be held during National Police Week in May 2024 where students will get the chance to participate in activities that are only possible in D.C.

“When we attend D.C. we will take part in National Police Week,” senior Skyler Horton said. “It’s where police officers and their families attend D.C. and celebrate and honor those who serve. They have many things to do while we are there. There’s the candle-lighting ceremony and even the president will come and speak to us. The biggest thing we are doing once we get there is gathering all of the names of the fallen officers in our state and getting the rubbings from the wall to frame and shipped or hand delivered once we return home.”

This trip isn’t Kennedy’s first rodeo – this year students will be the 3rd group Kennedy has taken to DC.

“Our instructor Mr Kennedy had taken former cadets before us to National Police Week in DC, and we took a liking to the idea of honoring those who have fallen,” senior Andrew Murray said. “He talked to us and showed us what it was about and we were inspired to be Mr Kennedy’s 3rd group of students to be able to attend this trip.”

In order to get to DC, these students have set a goal.

“The cadet’s goal is to raise enough funds to finance a trip to Washington D.C. during National Police Week to attend the memorial services, hear speakers such as the President of the United States, U.S. Attorney General, National Police Organization Leaders, and fallen Officers families,” advisor Brian Kennedy said.

As of right now, the academy has made progress in raising funds.

“So far the program has raised $1,985 so we obviously need a lot more to reach our goal, but all of my cadets have been working very hard on getting the name and program out there which is all I can ask,” Horton said.

With more fundraising, the community can help this talented group of students make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible.

“If the community were to help, it is simply a matter of raising the funds,” Kennedy said. “We can provide a link to individual fundraisers and straight donations can be made to the program through the high school by using the attached form or the bar code for the individual fundraiser called Vertical Raise.”

If the community wishes to help out then their donation will help in more ways than just for extra spending money.

“The funds collected will be used mainly for airfare and hotel rooms for the group,” Murray said. “If we have money left then all of it will be used for transportation purposes. We would prefer the funds to be raised ASAP but we do not have a set deadline. From our team’s perspective, we would like to have the funds raised by February.”

Regardless if the cadets choose to go into the criminal justice world or not, this trip will be an unforgettable experience for all team members.

“I think this trip will give us a different perspective of the workforce we might go into, the different people we will meet, or the different situations we might face,” Murray said. “While I don’t plan on going directly to this field, I know that this trip will be a memorable experience that I can look back on and remember.”

Link to donate

Willis HS Law Enforcement Academy Fundraiser