Texas Police Training

Police officer

Police officers in Texas go through extensive training, consisting of hundreds of hours of instruction in a variety of academic and tactical courses. Once the training is complete, an officer must pass a final examination. Continued training is required of all officers, and additional training and certification must be completed to qualify for higher-ranking positions.

Basic Training

Police officers in Texas are required to meet basic training criteria as established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE). Various departments also may have their own training requirements. For example, prospective officers who seek employment in the university system must attend the University of Texas System Police Academy. The length of these programs varies, but the minimum number of hours of training required prior to being licensed as police officer is 618.

Academic Coursework

Police academies provide extensive academic training relevant to law enforcement. Typical courses include basic investigation and report writing, along with more advanced topics, such as constitutional law and radio procedures. TCLEOSE also requires all officers to complete coursework in civil rights, racial sensitivity and cultural diversity.

Additional required academic courses include de-escalation techniques as well as classes on recognizing child abuse or neglect and domestic violence. Requirements are constantly updated. For example, as of January 1, 2011, Texas officers also must complete training on human trafficking.

Police Tactics

Firearms

Texas police officers must receive training in police techniques. Typical classes include detection of impaired drivers, handcuffing techniques, evidence collection and self-defense. TCLEOSE requires training in the areas of defensive tactics, arrest procedures and use of firearms and motor vehicles. Moreover, TCLEOSE also requires that police departments that employ at least two officers must designate a "firearms proficiency officer" and require each officer to demonstrate proficiency with firearms on a yearly basis.

Continuing and Advanced Training

All Texas police officers must continue training after completing the initial training and courses. Continued training must consist of 40 hours of training every 24 months and include courses on civil rights, racial sensitivity and cultural diversity, similar to those required during the initial training.

Officers who wish to be promoted also must complete additional training. For example, to be promoted to special investigator, an officer must obtain an intermediate peace officer proficiency certificate, which has tiered requirements ranging from 400 hours of training for officers with eight years of experience to 2,400 hours of training for officers with only two years of experience. Academic degrees are also taken into consideration.

Final Examination

Texas police officers must pass a final exam known as the Texas Peace Officer Licensing Examination. The exam consists of 250 multiple-choice questions on such topics as legal precedent, police techniques and Texas statutes. It lasts two hours and 45 minutes, and the applicant must successfully answer at least 70 percent of the questions to pass.

References

• University of Texas Police Academy
• Overview: Texas Police Officer Licensing Examination
• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education Handbook