Basic Peace Officer

Requirements for Weatherford College Law Enforcement Academy (WCLEA)

1. Be a citizen of the United States, and able to provide a certified copy of birth certificate, copies of driver's license, and Social Security card.
2. Be at least 21 years of age at the time of completion of the Academy or before taking the state exam.
3. Pass a background investigation by TCLEOSE which includes a search of local, state and national records and fingerprints files to disclose any criminal record.
4. Have never been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order.
5. Never have been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years.
6. Not currently charged with any criminal offense.
7. Never have been convicted of any family violence offense.
8. Never have been convicted of a felony.
9. Provide a copy of complete driving record and not be prohibited by law from operating a motor vehicle, or possessing firearms or ammunition.
10. Be of good moral character.
11. Meet one of the following minimum educational requirements:
1. Be a high school graduate;
2. Have passed a General Equivalency Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level; or,
3. Have 12 semester hours credit from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
12. Be declared in writing, upon examination by a licensed physician, within 30 days prior to the start of the Academy, to be physically sound and free from any defects which may adversely affect the performance of duty appropriate to the license sought.
13. Show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use upon completion of a 10-panel drug screen.
14. Be declared in writing, upon examination by a licensed psychologist chosen by the Academy, to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as a peace officer.
15. Provide a copy of a DD-214 Long Form, if served in the U.S. armed forces, and not have been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including specifically:
16. Under other than honorable conditions; Bad conduct; Dishonorable, or, Any other characterization of service indicating bad character
17. Not have had a TCLEOSE license denied by final order or revoked.
18. Not currently on TCLEOSE suspension, or not have a voluntarily surrender of TCLEOSE license currently be in effect.
19. Pass a physical assessment test prior to the start of the Academy.
20. Pass a COMPASS or THEA reading and writing assessment:

COURSE OF STUDY ELEMENTS

• Introduction and Orientation
• History of Policing
• U.S. & Texas Constitution
• Code of Criminal Procedure
• Penal Code
• Civil Process and Liability Code
• Drugs
• Stress Management for Police
• Interpersonal Commutations/Report Writing/Spanish
• Strategies of Defense: Arrest/Firearms
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
• Multiculturalism and Human Relations
• Victims of Crime
• Crowd Management
• Juvenile Issues - Texas Family Code
• Interacting & Recognizing Mental Illness and Mental Retardation
• Fitness and Wellness
• Professionalism and Ethics
• Criminal Justice System
• Arrest/Search/Seizure
• Traffic
• Texas Alcohol and Beverage Code
• Criminal Investigations
• Field Note Taking
• Use of Force: Law/Concepts
• Emergency Communications
• Professional Police Driving
• Professional Policing Approaches
• Family Violence
• Hazardous Materials