SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT
The San Marcos Police Department has reached a major benchmark in mental health response readiness. Every eligible frontline officer has earned the Mental Health Peace Officer (MHPO) certification, completing a multi-year departmental priority focused on improving how officers respond to individuals experiencing mental illness or crisis.
Today, 76 officers hold the certification, repre- senting 59 percent of the department. Because state law requires a minimum of two years of service before an officer may begin MHPO coursework, the eligible pool is always changing. As newer officers meet that threshold, they will move through the same advanced certification track, ensuring the standard is maintained longterm.
A total of 57 officers earned the certification in 2025 alone. The certification requires a minimum of 74 hours of specialized instruction including deescalation, crisis intervention, first aid, and CPR, and a 24-hour Mental Health Officer course. Collectively, officers completing the certification in 2025 logged more than 4,200 hours of training.
“Our community has been clear about the importance of mental health. We listened,” San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said. “We made this a priority because people experiencing crisis deserve skilled officers who know how to de-escalate, support, and connect them to help. This certification ensures our officers have the training and tools they need to do exactly that.”
This investment translates directly to field readiness. Of the 76 certified MHPOs, 54 are assigned to public-facing roles including patrol, school-based policing, downtown operations, and crisis response teams. Beginning in January 2026, the majority of officers on every patrol shift will hold MHPO certifications, expanding the department’s ability to respond effectively to mental health emergencies.
“San Marcos has taken a leadership position in addressing mental health in society from the law enforcement perspective and demonstrated its sincere commitment to serve the community,” Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Greg Stevens said. “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.”
Assistant City Manager Lonzo Anderson said the accomplishment reflects investment in community trust.
“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,” he said.
The Texas Police Chiefs Association Executive Director, Chief Gene Ellis (ret) congratulated the entire SMPD for this accomplishment.
“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 said. “San Marcos may be among the very few agencies in Texas to have ever achieved this level of certification, setting a benchmark for excellence in our state.”
