Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Training

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Training monitors the policing industry.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Training (or Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education) is a state-funded entity created by the Texas State Senate to ensure the quality of policing throughout the state. The commission not only trains and certifies police officers and correctional officers, but it also enacts rules for entry into these professions. The commission also has the power to create laws regarding the state's law enforcement industry.

History

The commission was created in 1965 by the State Senate's 59th Legislative Session, but wasn't fully funded until 1967. The first initiative was a voluntary certification program that graduated the first students in 1968. The following year, participation in the program was mandatory for peace officers (law enforcement and correction officers). Over the next few years, the commission began to establish employment standards and continued to add new laws for peace officers.

Mission

The commission exists to ensure that all law enforcement and corrections professionals are properly trained and adhere to ethical standards, according to the commission's website. It fulfills this mission by first setting standards for law enforcement, then by providing pre-employment screening and post-employment development and monitoring.

Licenses and Certifications

The commission offers six licenses, for peace officers, reserve peace officers, deputy constables, jailers, telecommunicators (dispatchers and similar professions) and chief administrators (law enforcement commanders). Each certificate requires a certain amount of training that reach as long as 40 hours.

Achievment Awards

Besides simply regulating the industry, the commission also honors law enforcement professionals. State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Awards are given out each year to outstanding professionals who have been nominated by their peers in three categories: Professional Achievement, Public Service and Valor. Since the awards began in 1990, more than 200 awards have been given out as of 2010.

Regions

The commission covers the entire state by dividing the area into seven regions: Region 1 is the Panhandle, Region 2 is West Texas, Region 3 is South Texas, Region 4 is South East Texas, Region 5 is North East Texas, Region 6 is North Central Texas and Region 7 is Central Texas. Certifications go through these regions and each region has a direct contact person (called a field agent).

References

• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education