Basic Peace Officer II

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Class
CJLE 1012

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.

Course Learning Objectives

The student will accomplish the following objectives and outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of traffic laws contained in the Texas Transportation Code and their applications.
  2. Demonstrate working knowledge of the laws, methods and techniques relative to traffic accident investigation.
  3. Demonstrate ability to control and direct traffic in a safe and legal manner.
  4. Demonstrate and apply working knowledge of the detection, apprehension and arrest of the intoxicated driver.
  5. Demonstrate and apply working knowledge of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.
  6. Indentify and understand methods of intoxication detection and general deterrence.
  7. Describe and understand the physiologic processes of absorption, distribution and elimination of alcohol in the human body.
  8. Demonstrate knowledge of the DWI offenses in both the Texas Penal Code and court case law.
  9. Identify and describe the liability assumed resulting from improper acts or failure to act during daily law enforcement duties and in the execution of civil process.
  10. Understand the difference between civil and criminal process, and between general contempt of court and constructive contempt of court.
  11. Understand common English and Latin terms used in civil and criminal process. 
  12. Demonstrate understanding how the jurisdictions of Texas courts are established.
  13. Demonstrate understanding of civil action procedures and process.
  14. Ability to list persons authorized to serve civil process and their duties under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and identify the process for the service of citations.
  15. Ability to describe writs available before judgment, pre-judgment, and their purpose.
  16. Ability to utilize the provisions of the Texas Alcoholic beverage Code in the performance of law enforcement and the peace-keeping role.
  17. Demonstrate effective written communication skills in report writing, and understand the importance and the creation of effective field notes.
  18. Demonstrate understanding of the uses and essential characteristics of police reports.
  19. Demonstrate proficiency in selected phrases of Spanish in law enforcement.
  20. Ability to perform safely and effectively the first-responder role at a hazardous materials event.
Required Textbooks

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

Evaluation Standards

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.

Absences

See Public Safety Professions Rules and Regulations

Disabilities

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.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
SCANS

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.

Revised
Fall 2023