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Compact with Texas

Overview

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) is a state regulatory agency charged with the responsibility of establishing, implementing, and maintaining standards for peace officers, county corrections officers, and emergency communications personnel. Its mission is to ensure a Texas where people are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement and corrections personnel through screening, developing and monitoring resources, and setting standards. TCOLE is operated under a philosophy whereby we look to our laws for equity and justice. We believe in and strive to achieve a state where laws are enforced by well qualified persons with the highest standards of ethicsand accountability. We approach our responsibilities with a deep sense of purpose and commitment and we strive to conduct agency business with fairness and conviction.

Customer Service Goals

  • We promise to return telephone calls within 24 hours during the business week, if unavailable when the call is received.
  • We promise to answer all requests for information immediately on receipt, unless the information is unavailable, protected from disclosure, or compilation, analysis or research is required.
  • Immediately on receipt means: while you are still on the telephone, unless a written response is requested or required; when an e-mail is actually read (please know that e-mail sent to staff members who travel frequently may not be read for several days or even weeks); written requests within 3 days during the business week, unless the request requires research, analysis, compilation, or is protected from disclosure in which case we will notify you of this circumstance.

You should make formal requests for open public records in writing. TCOLE complies with current law and interpretations provided by the Texas Office of the Attorney General concerning this type of request. We respond to all such formal requests in the order of their receipt and without delay.

You should be aware, however, that TCOLE may not require that all requests for information be formalized and will provide available requested information without a formal request, if that meets your needs. To determine whether your request for information should be submitted in writing, please contact Open Records at (512) 936-7763, Fax (512) 936-7714, or open_records@tcole.texas.gov.

TCOLE has no authority to investigate citizen complaints against law enforcement officers or agencies concerning services they provide or fail to provide, except and unless a violation of law or rule occurs related to  licensing, training, certification, appointment, or other related standards, or upon conviction of a covered criminal offense.

It is the policy of TCOLE and its executive director to receive courteously and investigate promptly your complaints, including anonymous complaints, concerning: the behavior and official acts of its employees; the quality and  impact of its programs, services, and rules; and to the extent authorized by law, the actions of its licensees.

TCOLE has two types of complaints: Informal and Formal.

  • Informal complaints are those in which the policies, rules, or general operating methods of TCOLE are questioned. These complaints are referred to the proper division manager. If an employee is involved, the issue is handled according to the disciplinary policy.
  • Formal complaints involve failure of TCOLE employees to adequately and professionally perform their duties, serious violations of policies or rules which adversely affect TCOLE’s ability to complete its mission or create a loss of public trust, or alleged criminal acts committed by TCOLE employees. These complaints will be processed in accordance with Sections 614.022 and 614.023 of the Texas Government Code.

Please visit our website for other information about TCOLE, its programs and services, its Commissioners, its hard-working staff, and the agencies and institutions with which it is affiliated.

We welcome comments regarding our services. Call us at 512-936-7700 or write to the executive director at:

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
6330 East Hwy 290, Ste. 200
Austin, Texas 78723