Sergeant Wayne Gerrish joined the San Jacinto College family in March 2025 as an adjunct
professor in criminal justice. He has served with the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable’s
Office for almost 20 years and has taught thousands of students representing over
25 countries from five continents around the world prior to bringing his expertise
to the College.
Describe what you do for the College.
At San Jac, I teach criminal justice courses with a practical, real-world focus. I
build lectures, learning activities, and scenario-based exercises that help students
understand not just what the law says, but how it plays out in the field and of course
the “why.”
I also focus heavily on professionalism, decision-making, and communication skills
that translate into any career, not just public safety. I try to emphasize the premise
of vicarious interaction and being good stewards of the “social contract.”
What did you do before coming to San Jac?
I have served with the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable’s Office since 2006. From
2006 to 2014, I worked as a patrol deputy with an emphasis on traffic and DWI enforcement,
crash investigation and collision reconstruction, minor investigations, and routine
calls for service. During that period, I also contributed to training and program
development by redesigning and writing the department’s Field Training Program and
manual, drafting Crash Team operational policy, and building the Field Training Officer
evaluation program.
Since April 2014, I have served as a patrol sergeant and field training coordinator
in the patrol division. I supervise daily operations, manage staffing and scheduling,
review and approve reports, conduct performance counseling, handle discipline matters,
and conduct internal investigations.
From March 2018 to August 2024, I served as an adjunct instructor at the University
of Houston Downtown, delivering Texas Commission on Law Enforcement mandated academy
curriculum. I taught legal and procedural content, adapted instruction to diverse
cadet groups, and worked with academy leadership to improve training quality and maintain
compliance.
What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
Law enforcement has been a lifelong passion of mine. From the time I was 4 years old,
I was dressing in my grandfather’s old police uniform shirts. During elementary school
I would play “cops and fireman” with the neighbor running all around the neighborhood
“saving the day.” Coincidentally enough, that neighbor is the fire chief for Sugarland
and a former San Jac adjunct. I stayed hyper focused on the premise of becoming a
police officer even getting my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston
State University before attending the police academy.
During the first few years of my career, I narrowly escaped career ending injuries
on multiple occasions leading me to further my education to ensure a safety net should
I not be able to do the job anymore. Early on while working on my Master of Business
Administration, I also obtained my police instructor certification and started teaching
course work for law enforcement. I enjoyed the opportunity to be in front of a classroom
and taking theoretical concepts and turning them into practical skills. This is when
I realized teaching was something I am relatively good at. Upon completion of my
MBA, I worked toward and earned my Master of Science in Criminal Justice so I could
also teach at the collegiate level.
Teaching one on one in the field training environment in law enforcement was my introduction
to teaching from 2009-2015.
Police instructor is where I got my classroom experience and curriculum development
experience and have logged thousands of hours and thousands of students since 2012.
We believe every employee contributes to the College’s goal of student success. How
does your job support this goal?
I feel like my practitioner experience helps me to make theoretical concepts make
sense. I am able to explain the what, the why, and the how, with regard to the world
of criminal justice concepts, with real world experiences and examples the students
can remember.
I also give the students a platform to share their experiences, thoughts, and views
and where appropriate, offer alternative perspectives, in an effort to understand
the other side or opposing view.
For those students interested in the criminal justice career field, it’s important
to be prepared for the reality of what these jobs entail and the need to understand
all sides for long-term success.
Outside of teaching, what is else are you involved in?
At Precinct 8, my additional responsibilities include:
I manage and evaluate the field training program by overseeing training officer performance,
curriculum and standards, and trainee development. I schedule new hires, track progress,
recommend personnel actions when needed, and conduct train the trainer sessions.
I serve as Crisis Negotiation Team commander and lead responses to suicidal subjects,
barricaded suspects, and hostage situations. I maintain operational command during
critical incidents and coordinate with negotiators, tactical teams, and command staff.
I serve as an assistant training coordinator and support the design, development,
and delivery of in-service training courses for regional law enforcement officers,
covering legal issues, use of force, investigations, patrol procedures, officer safety,
mental health, and crisis negotiation.
Most recently, I was tasked with rebuilding and supervising the department’s K-9 program.
It is my responsibility to set training standards, plan and oversee regular training,
review documentation and readiness, and ensure our K-9 teams are ready for deployment
for narcotics and explosives detection, as well as patrol functions including tracking/trailing
and apprehension. I also coordinate with handlers, trainers, and command staff to
keep performance consistent and to manage the administrative side that comes with
K-9 deployments, including tracking activity and supporting case follow-through when
forfeiture is involved.
On Jan. 7, I oversaw a training group consisting of the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable’s
Office, Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office, the Pearland Police Department,
and Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office using the vehiclesat C-26 to train the drug/bomb detecting dogs.
We worked on tracking/trailing over various surfaces (grass, concrete, tile, sand,
asphalt etc.). This means we staged a lost/missing person or fleeing suspect and then
generated a scent article of that target and worked the dogs on that odor specific
scent trail. We also hid seven different narcotics/illicit drugs and six different
types of explosives/firearms and ammunition. These hides were placed in various vehicles
throughout the lot behind C 26. The dogs conducted open air sniffs around the vehicles
to locate those vehicles that contained the respective odors.
What is one thing you enjoy most about your job at San Jac?
I enjoy the interactions with the students. I get the opportunity to humanize the
uniform and badge, and they get the opportunity to engage with a police officer in
a way that not many people get. It is very rewarding to broaden students’ awareness
on future job prospects or ideas to further their goals. Instead of just having a
goal I try to provide them a path to obtain that goal or at least get their foot in
the door.
Are you a San Jac alum?
I’m not a San Jac alum, but I do have a strong personal connection to the College.
I grew up near the campus in the 1990s and spent a lot of time around the school campus
riding my bike and playing on the old track. In the early 2000s, my mother taught
me how to drive using the CMV driving track. Additionally, my son Johnathan is in the ACE Program through the LaPorte Independent
School District trying to earn his associates degree as a high school student. It’s
meaningful to be here as an instructor, contributing to a place that’s been part of
my life throughout the years.
My wife graduated from San Jac’s school of massage therapy in 2019 and now owns her
own private practice called Bayou & Bay Massage ,which is the highest rated massage
therapy clinic in the Webster, NASA, Clear Lake area.
What gives you daily motivation?
I strongly relate to and attempt to live up to my favorite quote by President John
Adams, which states, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do
more and become more, you are a leader." I am truly motivated when I can help others be a better version of themselves today
than they were yesterday.
What is something you’re exceptionally good at?
For the most part, building new programs, remodeling or improving existing programs
and training are my areas of strength. This also relates to people. I feel like I
am good at helping others find their strength or improve themselves through mentoring
and training, and I love every second of the journey with them.
One of your life’s proudest moments?
It’s hard to pick because I do have two children, so I’ll say a tie between watching
and listening to my son play piano and observing my daughter creating her own parody
lyrics to pop music. They are both incredibly funny, witty, intelligent and are the
best children a parent could hope to have.
What is one thing you still hope to accomplish in life?
I hope to be able to retire from law enforcement at a relatively young age and spend
my retirement travelling with my family. I really want my children and their children
to see the world and experience the different cultures. In concert with that, my wife
and I are huge Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) fans and have ambitions to try to see them
play in all of the 32 venues across the U.S. and Canada.
What do you do for fun and relaxation when not at work?
Travelling and hiking have been my biggest hobbies. Family vacations to Mexico, Canada,
numerous states throughout the country. My son and I hiked to the bottom of the Grand
Canyon and back out and among many other “guys” trips we went to Egypt in July of
2024. I’ve gotten to hike numerous of miles throughout numerous states and national
parks with friends and co-workers.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
