Texas father and son graduate police academy together

It’s not unusual for the child of a law enforcement officer to join the force as an adult. However, a parent and child heading down that path together are a bit rarer.

But that’s exactly what Winston and Christian Edmondson did. The father-and-son duo attended — and graduated from — the Tarrant County College Law Enforcement Academy in Fort Worth, Texas, together.

Winston Edmondson, the father, previously ran for mayor of nearby Lewisville, Texas. Increasing the size of the local police department was a major aspect of his platform. Winston said that his decision to go into law enforcement was a long time coming.

“I had been thinking about getting into law enforcement,” he told Dallas-Fort Worth CBS affiliate KTVT, “and I had been encouraging both my sons to get into law enforcement.”

His son Christian said learning the ropes alongside his dad had multiple benefits. Not only did they get to share the experience, but they also motivated one another to do the best they could.

“My dad and I are really competitive,” he told KTVT. “This academy was good for both of us, I think, because it kinda gave us a bond.”

Winston posted a photo of the two of them on their last day as cadets, noting that they’d been getting up at 4:30 a.m. every day to drive to the academy together, as well as staying up late studying for their tests. “I’m going to miss spending so much time with my son. I’m going to cherish these memories,” he wrote.

Christian has already accepted a position with the Flower Mound, Texas, Police Department, which shared a post from KTVT on Twitter. “Great video showcasing one of our newest officers, Christian Edmondson, and his father as they recently graduated the police academy together,” Flower Mound PD tweeted. “Officer Edmonson is an FMHS graduate and begins his field training very soon!”

Winston is currently considering his options. He also hopes that he can inspire others to consider a career in law enforcement.

“There are a lot of police departments here in North Texas that need good men and women to take up the call,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “I think it’s really neat that this story has motivated some people to apply.”

Congrats to the new graduates!