Jeremy Spann

Each time Fort Worth Police Department Det. Jeremy Spann prepares a warrant, investigates a case, or interviews victims, witnesses or suspects, he draws on skills he first solidified in 2002 as a student at TCC.

Spann was ready to attend college only after completing a tour in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he discovered that the struggles that had forced him to drop out of high school at 17 were the result of an undiagnosed learning disability. As a Marine, he learned skills that helped him succeed despite being dyslexic.

Armed with that new confidence, he enrolled at TCC. There he found nurturing teachers who helped him hone the skills that prepared him not only to graduate in 2004, but also to play an active role in Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for community colleges. During his tenure as PTK president, the chapter won 25 district, regional, national and international awards, including special recognition for South Campus President Ernest Thomas for his support of the chapter.

Multiple campuses, proximity, and reputation as a feeder school attracted Spann to TCC. The College provided him the flexibility to continue to work full time as a police officer while furthering his education.

"(TCC faculty) helped me overcome insecurities and increase my abilities. They gave me the skill and passion needed to pursue my four-year degree," said Spann. "Otherwise my time at TCU would have been a lot more challenging."

Spann earned a B.A. in political science international relations with an emphasis on Latin American studies from Texas Christian University in 2006. Because of his hard work at TCC, TCU offered him its most prestigious full academic scholarship, the Chancellor's Scholarship. His interest in foreign affairs was piqued by his firsthand view of the tensions he witnessed as a Marine stationed in Bucharest, Romania; Beijing, China; and Seoul, Korea.

Though his life's experiences no doubt contribute to his success in the SCRAM (sex crimes, registration, apprehensions and monitoring) Unit, Spann credits TCC faculty for providing him the skills that help him prepare the warrants so necessary to bring a case to trial. A judge has never refused to sign one of his warrants that ultimately allow him to gather the evidence necessary to prepare cases that the district attorney's office is willing to prosecute.

"To be an effective detective, you do not have to have any type of formal education, but I firmly believe since I received my formal education it has made me a more effective detective," said Spann.

-by Rita L.B. Parson