Police Licensing And In-Service Training In Texas

Police Licensing and In-Service Training in Texas;

Realities and Perceptions Throughout the nineteenth century, Texas experimented with Law Enforcement systems that were either non-existent or barely duplicated in the other states. (Tate, 2013 p. 522). Tracing its roots back the The Texas Rangers, law enforcement in the State of Texas has evolved over the centuries from a system seen as “frontier justice” to a highly regulated system of licensing and regulation. Though highly regulated, the public-perception of law enforcement officers’ ability to interpret and enforce the law is often questioned, as many are not aware of the requirements necessary to obtain and maintain a Peace Officer License in the State of Texas and other states across America. This paper will examine information related to police discretion and public perceptions. Further, licensing requirements and training regulations for peace officers in the State of Texas will be presented. Additionally, a brief look at training and job satisfaction along with scholarly recommendations and regulatory practices related to police officer training and education will be provided.

Police Discretion and Public Perceptions

Despite the training requirements and regulation in the area of training law enforcement officers,

Because law enforcement officers are charged with the duty of enforcing the law, they must be extremely knowledgeable of the elements of the law and what constitutes a crime. On the surface, this may seem like a straightforward responsibility, but it is important to note that laws can change over time, thus officers are responsible for continuously updating their knowledgebase. TCOLE requires that officers attend mandatory in-service training every two years related to legislative legal