The San Marcos Police Department has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to mental health response training by ensuring that every eligible frontline officer has obtained the Mental Health Peace Officer (MHPO) certification. This achievement marks a culmination of a multi-year initiative aimed at enhancing how officers engage with individuals facing mental health challenges or crises. Currently, 76 officers, representing 59 percent of the department, hold the MHPO certification.
The pathway to MHPO certification is governed by state law, which mandates that officers complete a minimum of two years of service before they can begin their training. As a result, the pool of eligible officers continuously evolves. In 2025, a total of 57 officers successfully earned their certification. The training process encompasses a minimum of 74 hours of specialized instruction, focusing on areas such as de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, first aid, and CPR, alongside a dedicated 24-hour Mental Health Officer course. Collectively, officers who achieved certification in 2025 logged over 4,200 hours of training.
Leadership Commitment to Mental Health Response
San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge emphasized the community’s call for improved mental health responses. “Our community has been clear about the importance of mental health. We listened,” he stated. “We made this a priority because people experiencing crisis deserve skilled officers who know how to de-escalate, support, and connect them to help.” The certification ensures that officers possess the necessary skills and resources to effectively manage mental health emergencies.
This proactive training approach translates directly to enhanced field readiness. Among the 76 certified MHPOs, 54 officers are assigned to roles that involve direct community interaction, including patrol, school-based policing, downtown operations, and crisis response teams. Starting in January 2026, the majority of officers on each patrol shift will be certified, significantly increasing the department’s capacity to handle mental health situations effectively.
Greg Stevens, Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), commended the San Marcos Police Department for its dedication to mental health training. “San Marcos has taken a leadership position in addressing mental health in society from the law enforcement perspective,” he noted. “TCOLE is proud to recognize the San Marcos Police Department as it works to ensure its patrol officers are trained and prepared to respond effectively to situations involving citizens experiencing a mental health crisis.”
Building Community Trust
The achievement also reflects the city’s commitment to nurturing community trust. Assistant City Manager Lonzo Anderson remarked on the significance of this accomplishment, stating, “This remarkable achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to standing by residents during their most vulnerable moments. With this advanced training, our officers are equipped to respond with understanding, patience, and compassion, thereby deepening the trust between our department and the community we serve.”
Chief Gene Ellis (ret), Executive Director of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, congratulated the San Marcos Police Department on this notable accomplishment. He highlighted the department’s commitment to maintaining high service standards, stating, “Their dedication to completing this extensive certification process reflects an unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standard of service to the San Marcos community.” He noted that San Marcos may be among the few agencies in Texas to achieve this level of certification, setting a benchmark for excellence in law enforcement training statewide.
