Dallas College

Student Experience: Gerrye Anderson

“I got interested in a career in criminal justice by talking to friends and family, and I thought it sounded like something I would really enjoy doing. I went through Eastfield's Basic Peace Officer training as a full-time student and graduated in May 2007. I’ve also been taking Criminal Justice credit classes to earn my associate degree. 

“With my peace officer training, I really got a hands-on experience. We went through all types of training, with different scenarios on what can go wrong. 

“I also love my credit Criminal Justice classes, especially the ones with Patrick Patterson. He gets right to the point and gives you so much information that you can take right to work. I’ve learned a lot that I didn’t know — like you can write a ticket for someone who’s honking their horn unnecessarily. 

“If you’re interested in police work, I’d recommend the Criminal Justice Training Center and Criminal Justice degree program. They’re going to make sure you’ve got the background to go out and get a good job.” 

A graduate of Roosevelt High School, Gerrye (pronounced “jerry”) Anderson graduated from the Basic Peace Officer training course in May 2007 and is completing an associate degree in Criminal Justice at Eastfield. She was hired as a campus police officer at Dallas College in January 2008.


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Karen Kenebrew

Karen Kenebrew

Writer and mediator
“The program not only fulfilled my CE requirements but also motivated me to seek postgraduate degrees in alternative dispute resolution/conflict resolution. The instructors have a wealth of experience and are passionate about the industry, which translates well in the classroom and adds to the learning experience.”
Conflict Management
Joyce Jones

Joyce Jones

Assistant Executive Director Dispute Mediation Services
“My experience at community college taught me baby steps, which led to giant steps. Not everybody can succeed at first in a four-year university. My best advice is to stay focused. Anybody can get off track, but try to find your way back. I did.”
Criminal Justice
John Tinsley

John Tinsley

Patrol Officer Rockwall Police Department
“It was a good experience to have officers with experience tell us how it was going to be on the street. I loved my time at the police academy. Sometimes my friends and I joke that if they told us we had to be back at the academy tomorrow, we’d all show up at 8 a.m. and be happy to be there.”
Criminal Justice
Giovanna Salazar

Giovanna Salazar

Dallas College student and hopeful future border patrol officer
“I like that my professors don’t just have academic knowledge but have a working background in all different fields. It brings more interest to our classes and we get to have a much better idea of what we’ll be up against in the future in our careers.”
Criminal Justice
Gerrye Anderson
Gerrye Anderson
Campus Police Officer Eastfield
Criminal Justice
School of Law and Public Service
Updated September 22, 2026