Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened applications for its 70th Law Enforcement Cadet Class, which trains game wardens and state park police officers. Applications are open November 1 through December 31, 2026, with the academy starting October 1, 2027.
Where
Statewide
When
Nov. 1, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Coming up
Thursday, December 31, 2026. Application deadline for 70th Law Enforcement Cadet Class12
Friday, October 1, 2027. 70th Law Enforcement Cadet Class academy begins (Texas Game Warden Training Center near Hamilton)12
Who's involved
Texas Parks and Wildlife Departmentaccepting applications for cadet class
Col. Ron VanderRoestlaw enforcement director
The facts
Application period runs Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.12Stated by 2 sources
Academy is 35 weeks and starts Oct. 1, 2027.12Stated by 2 sources
Applicants must be at least 21 on or before Oct. 1, 2027, with no maximum age.12Stated by 2 sources
Bachelor's degree required by June 30, 2027, or 60 college credits plus two years military or law enforcement service.12Stated by 2 sources
Applicants must pass background investigation, psychological and medical evaluations, and physical readiness test.12Stated by 2 sources
Selection process is highly competitive with only most qualified chosen.12Stated by 2 sources
Cadets train at Texas Game Warden Training Center near Hamilton and live there for full 35 weeks.1
Game wardens and state park police enforce hunting, Parks and Wildlife Code, Penal Code, Transportation Code and Health and Safety Code.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Col. Ron VanderRoest Career with TPWD offers opportunities few agencies can match.1
Col. Ron VanderRoest Officers work in diverse environments, develop specialized skills and take on responsibilities ranging from conservation enforcement to emergency response.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Texas Parks and Wildlife taking applications for next game warden cadet class
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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