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 TCLOLE certification exam. Basic Peace Officer I, II, III, and IV must be taken in conjunction as one 800-hour program.
The student will accomplish the following objectives and outcomes:
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of the use of handguns, patrol rifles, and shotguns on the firearms range, including proper stance, grip, sight alignment, breathing, and trigger squeeze.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of the mechanical functions of firearms used in law enforcement.
- Demonstrate advanced skills in tactical shooting from various positions and under a variety of conditions and circumstances.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of handguns, patrol rifles, and shotguns to meet minimum standards required by TCOLE.
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance and methods of patrol function and preparation.
- Awareness of the hazards a peace officer may encounter when on patrol.
- Demonstrate understanding of the various concepts and different techniques of patrol.
- Demonstrate understanding of the various concepts and techniques used to assess risks and confront pedestrians, traffic violators, and other persons when responding to calls for service and conducting field interviews.
- Demonstrate student preparedness to maintain peace and safeguard lives and property during situations calling for crowd management.
- Develop understanding of and appreciation for the unique opportunities available through effective public service.
- Ability to identify the value of crime prevention function and to perform crime prevention activities.
- Demonstrate understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the officer regarding consular notification.
- Develop a basic understanding and respect for the fundamental rights of and a proficiency in interacting with people with mental illness.
- Demonstrate student sensitivity to the adversity of mental illness.
- Develop knowledge base concerning suicide and the evaluation of danger levels.
- Demonstrate understanding of psychopharmacology as I relates to medications prescribed and their prominent side effects in persons with mental illness.
- Ability to internalize through orientation of crisis communication skills how they are best utilized with individuals with mental illness.
- Develop understanding of the legal process, evaluation, and techniques for appropriateness in the apprehension of persons with mental illness, according to the Texas Mental Health Code.
- Develop understanding of the world of the mentally ill through discussion of legal and societal concerns and perspectives.
- Gain understanding of mental health referral resources in the community, and jail/court-related alternatives for persons with mental illness.
- Develop a working knowledge of the goals and objectives of criminal investigation.
- Develop a working knowledge of basic skills to conduct investigations involving crimes against persons and property, and characteristics of these crimes.
- Develop a working knowledge of basic preliminary investigatory procedures associated with various crimes.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of forensic procedures, techniques, and terminology associated with criminal investigation.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of laboratory and other procedures of value in the criminal investigative process.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Texas Rules of Evidence, admissibility of evidence, and evidence handling in law enforcement.
- Demonstrate an increased knowledge, understanding of, respect of, and actual application of the tasks required in conducting a criminal investigation.
- Demonstrate knowledge in the procedures for securing, and the basic processing of, a crime scene, including collection and preservation of evidence.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the components of, and the differences between, interview and interrogation, with regard to victims, witnesses, and suspects.
- Develop understanding of a peace officer’s responsibility in the booking process.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of criminal case management.
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%
Further specifics about grades and testing are set forth in the Academy Rules and Regulations.
See Public Safety Professions 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