Meet the Instructors
We provide quality training for law enforcement, the public, and business professionals.
Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton
President/Instructor
Patrick Swanton’s police career started in 1980, with the Waco Police Department. His assignments were numerous. For the first ten years, he served in Patrol as a Patrol Officer, Special Investigator, and Field Training Officer training recruits.
Swanton was then assigned to the Special Operations Unit (S.W.A.T. Team) where he also became certified as a Crisis Negotiator and Team Leader for Waco P.D.’s Negotiation Team.
Patrick also worked in the Community Services Section where he specialized in Crime and Drug Prevention Programs. Swanton attended D.A.R.E. Officer training where he became certified as a D.A.R.E. Instructor.
In June of 1999, Swanton transferred back to Patrol where he was promoted to Sergeant. In 2003 Sgt. Swanton took over as the Supervisor of the Family Violence Unit. In 2010 Sergeant Swanton was recognized by Waco P.D. as Supervisor of the Year.
Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton has also attended the FBI Leadership School. In his last assignment, he was selected to be the Waco Police Department Spokesman where he remained until his Police Department retirement.
Swanton holds a Master Police Officer Certificate and an Instructor’s Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. He also has served on the Board of the Waco Police Association, as Vice President of Training with the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators, the Board of Directors for the Family Abuse Shelter, and the Family Abuse Shelter’s Service Committee.
Sergeant Swanton was the spokesman during the nationally known 2013 West Explosion and Twin Peaks Incidents. He was awarded a Proclamation from McLennan County Commissioners Court for his role in delivering information during the Twin Peaks Incident.
Sgt. Swanton retired from Waco PD in April of 2020. He is now President and a full-time instructor for the National Institute of Crime Prevention.
Sabrena L. Swanton
Vice President/Instructor
Sabrena Lynn Swanton graduated from China Spring High School in the summer of 2011. She continued her education at McLennan Community College in the fall of 2012. While enrolled at M.C.C. she began her career with the Waco Police Department as a telecommunications operator. She went on to graduate early in 2013 with her Law Enforcement associate degree. While attending, she remained on the Dean's List every semester and ultimately graduated on the Honor's List.
In July 2014, Sabrena was selected to attend the McLennan Community College Police Academy as a Waco Police Recruit. She was elected and served as the class president for her academy. After graduating, she was assigned as a Patrol Officer for the City of Waco Police Department.
Sabrena has attended multiple FBI Counter-Surveillance Terrorism training courses and has worked closely with Baylor University providing undercover surveillance. She has been on the Anti-Terrorism Counter-Surveillance Team since 2016.
She has attended the Secret Service Dignitary Protection Program and now serves as Team Lead for the Executive Protection Detail for Chip and Joanna Gaines, from the HGTV series, Fixer Upper.
Sabrena has attended multiple other trainings, including SAFVIC Human Trafficking, Child Abuse Prevention and Investigation, Mental Health Peace Officer School, and Advanced Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention classes. In 2020, Sabrena earned her Advanced Peace Officers Certificate and is slated to receive her Masters Peace Officers Certificate in the summer of 2026.
Sabrena has been certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education as an Instructor for the State of Texas. She has also completed The National Institute of Crime Preventions Instructor Training Program and has been an Instructor with NICP since 2019. She is currently working as a Patrol Officer for the Waco Police Department on the 3 pm – 1 am shift and is married to her husband, Aaron. Sabrena is the Vice President of the NICP.
Email: Sabrena@nicp.net
Aaron Mitzel
Instructor
Aaron Lee Mitzel graduated from Connally High School in 2000. He continued his education at McLennan Community College where he earned a degree in Fire Science Technology.
Aaron began his public service career as a full-time Firefighter and Paramedic for the Belton Fire Department. He continued his public safety service by joining the City of Waco Police Department, graduating from the police academy in 2003.
During his police career, Aaron served on the SWAT team as a Breacher, a Counter-Sniper, the team's Tactical Medic, and Team Lead. He also attended courses on Advanced Hostage Rescue as well as Advanced Dignitary Protection. While serving on SWAT Aaron provided executive protection for multiple heads of state, as well as numerous foreign dignitaries.
In 2013 Aaron was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and attended the School of Police Supervision.
Aaron attended Peer Support training. He served on the Waco Police Department's Peer Support Team, aiding officers involved in critical incidents. He is active with the department's training division where he is a Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor. Aaron was a Field Training Officer before he was promoted, and now serves as a Field Training Supervisor, training newly promoted sergeants.
Aaron is on the newly formed Mental Health Team that is actively working to facilitate better solutions for mental health consumers within the Waco area. He also serves on the departmental awards committee
recognizing those officers and civilians who go above and beyond for their community.
Aaron has been nominated and received numerous awards including 3 life-saving awards, and in 2013 was awarded Supervisor of the Year.
Aaron has attended the Secret Service Dignitary Protection Training Program and now serves as a Team Lead for the Executive Protection Detail for Chip and Joanna Gaines, from the HGTV series, Fixer Upper.
Aaron has been certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education as an instructor for the State of Texas. He has also completed The National Institute of Crime Prevention's Instructor Training Program and has been an Instructor with NICP since 2021. Aaron holds a Master Peace Officers Certificate obtained in 2010.
He currently works the 3p.m-1a.m shift and oversees a squad of 8 officers. Aaron is married to Sabrena Mitzel and has 2 children.
Email: Aaron@nicp.net
Dr. LaVonda Fowler
Instructor
Dr. LaVonda Fowler is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network Governing Board (CJIN).
In her role as the Executive Director of the CJIN Board, Dr. Fowler, recently implemented Criminal Justice Information Sharing initiative impacting over 9.6 million residents of NC and is being used by over 25,000 officers and now is being enhanced in areas of property information, facial recognition, advanced analytics, video management, biometrics and other emerging technologies. Additionally, the CJIN Electronic GPS Monitoring Program, which allows Domestic Violence and Specialty Courts to utilize a tracking and proximity alert for Defendants and victims. This program allows victims to be alerted when an abuser is within a certain proximity of them, thus allowing for their safe plan to be put into action. For Specialty Courts personnel can locate a defendant if they have overdosed or become involved in criminal drug related activity. Dr. Fowler has also partnered with eBodyGuard to create CJIN Safe, a program that offers a year of the eBodyGuard Program Application for victims. NC is the pilot for the Smart, Safe Cities initiative.
Refund Policy: If you need to cancel a class for any reason after payment, we offer the option to reschedule for a future class at your convenience.
Call Patrick Swanton (254) 340-8621 or Mary Lou Rousseau (813) 624-3309.
Privacy Policy: The NICP does not collect, distribute, or sell your information.