Moises and Norma Avelino
Basic Peace Officer Certification
Protecting and serving the community through law enforcement is a family affair for the Moises and Norma Avelino. Both alumni of the Eastfield College Criminal Justice Training Center — he was class of 2012 and she was class of 2017 — the Avelinos prove that it only takes one person to change the course of a family's destiny.
Both first generation Americans and first generation college students, Moises and Norma admit it wasn't easy achieving their dreams.
"I dropped out of high school and earned my GED," shared Moises. "I thought going to work full-time instead of earning my education was the best thing for my family. I quickly learned making $10 and hour wouldn't cut it. ... I always knew I was destined to be more, but I was afraid of getting started."
In 2012 he made the decision to evolve from a security guard to a police officer. Worried he wouldn't finish what he started, Moises kept his training and education a secret from his family, not telling anyone he was in the program until he nearly finished.
"I didn't want to disappoint anyone by quitting, so I waited until I was close to graduation until I told my parents," he said.
Their reaction to his new pathway caught Moises by surprise. "They were — and are — so proud of me."
His experience at Eastfield allowed him to forge lifelong friendships through the brotherhood and sisterhood of being a police officer. Ironically, this is what inspired his wife, Norma, to pursue her own dreams of law enforcement.
"I remember the night I decided to join. The shooting at El Centro was happening," Norma said. "My husband was pacing as we heard helicopters flying over downtown." This moment was her call to action.
Elected the first female class leader in the academy's history, Norma is proud to be a positive role model for the Hispanic community.
"Being a minority woman in law enforcement can be scary," she said. "I'm 5 foot 2, short in stature, and I know criminals underestimate me. But I promised myself I would be everything they think they I am not."
Now law enforcement is the family business. Moises is a sergeant at Cedar Valley College, and Norma works for the Balch Springs Police Department.
Moises Jr., 5, still has time to decide whether to follow in his parents' footsteps.
"The Criminal Justice Training Center has completely changed our lives – and it's beyond just academic success," Norma said. "We have accomplished physical success, financial success, and life success."