The Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) is designed to prepare cadets for a career as a professional peace officer. Successful completion of the BPOC equips cadets with the essential skills and knowledge for certification as a Basic Peace Officer by TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) and qualifies cadet graduates to take the TCOLE certification exam. Basic Peace Officer I, II, III, IV and V must be taken in conjunction as one 800-hour program.
The student will accomplish the following objectives and outcomes:
- Demonstrate fitness-related skills and apply the use of the skills in individual and professional activities in the promotion of health and well-being.
- Demonstrate knowledge of nutrition and its implications for professional performance, physical fitness, and wellness.
- Recognize the importance of exercise as it relates to health and wellness.
- Recognize the importance of the relationship between professional and individual activity and the quality of life.
- Discuss the elements of physical fitness.
- Increase self-confidence and self-awareness.
- Discuss the relationship between nutrition, obesity, weight control and exercise.
- Discuss the impact/effect of physical activity as it relates to individuals, the law enforcement profession, and society.
- Demonstrate knowledge of causes and effects of law enforcement stressors, including internally- and externally-induced stress.
- Develop personal strategies for the positive management of stress.
- Explain what occurs physically and psychologically when confronted with survival stress, critical incident stress or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Demonstrate knowledge of law enforcement history, management theories and organizational structure.
- Demonstrate knowledge of law enforcement supervision, personnel distribution, personnel issues, and personnel discipline.
- Demonstrate knowledge of both internal and external political forces which impact law enforcement.
- Develop knowledge of the law enforcement evolution and development in police service models and styles.
- Increase understanding of the organizational role in society, and police organizational issues.
- Understand and respect professionalism as it applies to law enforcement.
- Understand and accept the crucial role of ethics as related to professionalism.
- Understand the civil and criminal laws related to unethical behavior of peace officers.
- Understand, respect and apply the U.S. and Texas constitutions and Bill of Rights as they pertain to the role of peace officers and the rights of citizens.
- Understand and appreciate the specific roles and interrelationships of the various components within the Criminal Justice system, including the various state and federal courts and the adjudication process.
- Increase awareness of the role and importance of multiculturalism and human relations in law enforcement.
- Demonstrate understanding of the statutory authority for administration of criminal procedure as enumerated by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
- Demonstrate understanding of the general duties and responsibilities of peace officers as enumerated by the Texas CCP.
- Demonstrate understanding of the courts and their criminal jurisdictions.
- Demonstrate understanding of the procedures to be followed in the prevention and suppression of offenses.
- Demonstrate understanding of the time limitations relating to felonies and misdemeanors.
- Understand the requirements and procedures for arrest with and without a warrant.
- List and understand the duties of peace officers relating to search warrants.
- Understand the process relating to inquests regarding deceased persons.
- Understand the process relating to the Sex offender Registration Program.
- Understand the legal authorities as they pertain to the role of the peace officer and the rights of citizens regarding arrest, search and seizure.
- Demonstrate understanding of the exclusionary rule, offender constitutional rights, probable cause, and various specific case law associated with each.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the exceptions to the arrest and search warrant requirements, issues regarding custodial statements, the exclusionary rule, and the categories of evidence which may be seized by peace officers.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the introductory provisions, general principles of criminal responsibility, and punishments in the Texas Penal Code.
- Demonstrate an understanding of offenses against persons, the family, property, public administration, public order and decency, and public health/safety and morals, according to the Texas Penal Code.
- Understand organized crime, according to the Texas Penal Code.
- Demonstrate knowledge of Texas laws pertaining to controlled substances, dangerous, drugs, and abuseable volatile chemicals.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic illicit drug investigation techniques and procedures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the statutory authority and requirements for conducting investigations involving juvenile offenders, missing children, and missing persons.
- Demonstrate increased understanding of the psychological, social, and economic impact of crime on victims.
- Ability to recognize statutory responsibilities relating to victims’ rights.
Texas Criminal and Traffic Law Manual, (current edition),available for purchase at, www.blue360media.com.
Texas Criminal and Traffic Law Field Guide (latest edition), available for purchase at, www.blue360media.com
Cadet performance assessment will include oral questioning and Socratic Method; impromptu recitation; scenario-based role-play; guided class discussion; handwritten and word-processed reports; observed execution of physical/practical skills; and pen-and-paper, word-processed, electronically-scanned, and Internet-based short-answer and multiple-choice examinations. Performance will be considered satisfactory when the cadet can recite, enact, recognize, perform, and/or write about concepts or information designated by the instructor, under class and/or test conditions set by the instructor, and when the responses are consistent with course text, references, practical demonstrations, and/or lecture presentations.
All tests and physical/practical skills must be completed within the time-frame designated, and meet the point and/or percentage standards set, by the Academy program coordinator and approved by the Academy Advisory Board.
Further, in order to achieve satisfactory performance on written exams, cadets must achieve a grade of 77% or above by the completion of their fifth exam and maintain that throughout the course. Any grade below 77% shall be considered unsatisfactory. Physical/practical skills evaluations are pass/fail. A grade of 77% or higher on both the midterm and final written exams, a final cumulative grade average of 77%, and satisfactory completion of all physical/practical skills evaluations are required to complete the course and achieve eligibility to take the TCOLE certification exam.
Grade Distribution
Subject Exams 50% 77% to 100% = Pass
Mid-Term/Final Exam 30% Below 77% = Fail
Spelling Tests / Quizzes 20%
Practical Skills/Physical Training Evaluations Pass/Fail
Further specifics about grades and testing are set forth in the Academy Rules and Regulations.
ADA Statement:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.
The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified Competencies in the area of Resources, Interpersonal, Information, Systems, and Technology; and foundation skills in the areas of Basic Skills, Thinking Skills, and Personal Qualities. This course is part of a program in which each of these Competencies and skills are integrated. The specific SCANS Competencies recognized throughout this course are noted in the matrix attached to this syllabus.