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Bill “Doc” Lowden

“After getting out of the service and going through some hard family times, I started back to school using GI benefits. I was sworn in as a reserve police officer in March 2011, three months to the date after graduating from Cedar Valley’s Law Enforcement Academy in December 2010. Now I’m getting my prerequisites out of the way to earn my associate degree – I’m going to go school until my benefits run out. 

“I started the Law Enforcement Academy as a 46-year-old and it was a gut check. It was very challenging and my maturity was both an advantage and a disadvantage. I had the benefit of having had life experiences, but the academic part was my Achilles’ heel because I had been out of a learning environment for so many years. I was able to fall back on my military training with the concept of teamwork and it helped build a camaraderie with my other classmates. I got them to help me with academics and I helped them get perspective on things with my real-life experiences. 

“What I like about law enforcement is that no day is the same as another. There is constant interaction with various people and cultures and that’s what makes it both so interesting and so challenging.”

Bill Lowden is a reserve police officer with the Milford Police Department, 20 miles south of Waxahachie and completed Basic Officer Peace Training at Cedar Valley's Law Enforcement Academy. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years, having served as a navy corpsman, machinist tool and die maker and military police officer, retiring as a Petty Officer Second Class (E5).


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Maggie Brosowske

Maggie Brosowske, EMT-P, FF

Firefighter/Paramedic McKinney Fire Department
“The skills that I learned in the classroom, I use in the workplace all of the time. I’m the only female on my shift and one of only three female firefighter/paramedics in McKinney, but as long as I can pull my own weight, I’m fine.”
Fire Protection Technology
Rudy Salas

Rodolfo (Rudy) Salas

Hopeful future firefighter
“In my Fire Protection classes, I’ve learned a lot about how fire administration works — the chain of command — and it’s really exciting. I’m earning my associate degree because I think it will help me get my foot in the door and move toward my dream career as a firefighter.”
Fire Protection Technology
Roland Tay

Roland Tay, M.D.

Special Education Teacher, Naaman Forest High School, Garland Adjunct Faculty, Eastfield
“I was already working on a master’s degree in alternative dispute resolution at SMU when I learned about El Centro’s program, where I earned a certificate in Family Mediation. I was thrilled to find out about their program because it was convenient and affordable. The program was well-designed, and the quality of instruction was excellent.”
Conflict Management
Kathy Mack

Lt. Kathy Mack

Campus Police Officer, Cedar Valley
“Going back to school with work and a family isn’t easy, but it’s attainable. There were a few times when I wanted to give up, but then I’d get encouragement and keep going. You’re going to have obstacles but you have to fight for your goals.”
Criminal Justice
Bill Lowden
Bill “Doc” Lowden
Reserve police officer, Milford Police Department
Criminal Justice
School of Law and Public Service
Updated September 16, 2025